Saturday 26 September 2009
Dorset & Wilts Division 2 North
Speed and fitness tell
Minety 2nd XV 7pts – Pewsey Vale 68pts
Minety seconds played with great spirit, but although they improved markedly as the game went on, their opponents’ superior pace, fitness and organisation was always apparent.
Pewsey Vale have some very fleet-footed threequarters and the wit and skill to make sure that they give them the ball at every opportunity. Throughout the game, they scored run-away tries from deep, mostly under the posts, thereby making their goal kicker’s job much easier. Some of their points came from possession won by their own forwards, but they were equally adept at poaching ball spilled by their opponents.
Ratusuli had an inspired game for Pewsey and scored four tries. Rokobuli was also in great form and ran in a pair. The visitors’ other try scorers were Matt Mercer, Oli Spence, Tom Haynes and Jim Cameron, with Frank Poulson successfully converting nine out of 10 attempts at goal.
Although it improved later, Minety’s tackling was woefully ineffectual in the first half. The pack, too, was at sixes and sevens to begin with.
Forty-nil down at half-time, Minety played much better after the break as their forwards began to secure a fair share of the ball and the whole side got stuck in to their tackling. The home team’s try came from a period of sustained pressure that led to hooker Brendon Rice being presented with the ball deep into Pewsey’s 22. Chipping ahead, he wrong-footed the defence and won the chase to touch down for the score.
Tim Vaughan, who played a good game at centre, kicked the conversion.
“We’re still finding our feet in the new league,” said Minety captain Steve Murray. “We’re getting better all the time, though, and I’m confident we’ll soon be winning again.”
This Saturday, Minety seconds travel away to take on their counterparts at Melksham.
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