Saturday 16 November 2013
Dorset & Wilts 2nd XV Shield Quarter Final
Fitness tells
Minety 2nd XV 7pts – Royal Wootton Bassett 2nd XV 17pts
Despite dominating up front, Minety Dreamers found themselves coming off second best against their counterparts from Royal Wootton Bassett. The visitors’ superior pace and fitness made the difference and helped secure this quarter final of the Dorset & Wilts 2nd XV Shield by three tries to one.
Coming down the hill, an energetic and well-drilled Wootton Bassett kept their hosts pinned back in their own half for much of the first period. Minety tackled resolutely and for 30 minutes prevented any score.
Then the deadlock broke, and a well executed passing move saw Bassett piling over the line for their opening try.
With Minety visibly tiring as half-time approached, Bassett scored a break-away try that, with one conversion from two attempts, gave them a 12-point lead at the break.
Minety had the advantage of the slope in the second half, but although they continued to enjoy the upper hand in the forward encounters, they lacked the legs to get back on terms. Stout defence held Bassett for 20 minutes but could not prevent them scoring their third and final try up the slope.
A late try by Tom Windle and a successful conversion by his brother Ashley gave Minety some consolation for their efforts but failed to change the result.
Watching from the touchline, Minety’s injured second team captain Ben Scott commented, “I take a lot of encouragement from today’s performance against a side who play a league above us, but ultimately a lack of fitness let us down.”
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