Saturday 3 March 2012
Demolition day
Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North
Minety 1st XV 71pts – Bath Saracens 1st XV 5pts
In a frenetic encounter played at a galloping pace, Minety completely demolished Bath Saracens. Led by their rampant forwards, they ran in 11 tries while only conceding one.
Bath Saracens started at speed and only a last-ditch tackle by fullback Tim Vaughan prevented them scoring a run-away try in the opening minutes.
Flanker Ashley Windle launched Minety’s response, which continued with a hack ahead that bounced off a goal post and ended with flanker Gareth Peirce touching down for a try.
Jack Ward’s conversion was soon followed by a fine passing move by the home threequarters. Winger Dale Langdown almost made it to the line but scrumhalf Richard Fisher sprinted up in support to finish the job with a try in the corner.
Bath bounced back with a try of their own. Tapping a penalty, they shipped the ball left only for it to be snapped up by a runner steaming in on the counter angle and gliding in for a try under the posts.
Saracens’ failed attempt at a drop-kick conversion evoked the spirit of seven-a-side, an impression which was furthered by both teams’ hectic style for the rest of the half. Lock David Hazell and prop Matt Hooper took Minety upfield, where centre Jonty Messer finished the move with a dashing sprint for a try under the posts.
Although Ward’s conversion made it 19-5 at the break, Minety coach Huw Jones was not impressed by his team’s performance and urged them to greater discipline.
Responding, Minety began to exploit their forward superiority more systematically in the second half. Dominating every phase and getting their big men running up the narrow side, they soon began to pull away from their tiring opponents.
Number 8 Max Smith put in a 50 metre run down the left touchline for the opening try of the half. Peirce and Fisher both scored their second tries, sniping from the base of a ruck and a scrum respectively and after that it became a rout. Winger Robin Greenway scored a try, David Hazell landed a brace, Fisher completed his hat-trick and Langdown sped in for the final touchdown of the afternoon. Messer landed five conversions, including some beautiful kicks from the touchline, and Ward added a further conversion too.
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