The weekend’s loss in Division 1 at Pewsey was hugely disappointing, not in terms of the efforts of those who played in quite atrocious conditions, but more in terms of what might have been. As it is, Minety remain in 7th place in the league at the half way point actually closer to the bottom of the table than the top! Given that the team have beaten Warminster (albeit in the Senior Vase) and Royal Wootton Bassett (away from home) and only lost to Melksham with virtually the last phase of the game, it is surprising to see the team so far down, and sadly adrift of the top 6 teams.
Elsewhere, Melksham’s draw with Warminster did neither team much good in their attemtps to close in on the two non Dorset and Wiltshire teams in the division. Top of the table Combe Down maintained their impressive unbeaten run with a win over Bassett while Avonvale were made to work hard by 6th placed Trowbridge.
Calne’s draw with Sutton Benger keeps those two teams firmly behind Minety while Chippenham had a relatively easy win over winless Supermarine.
In Division 3 at least Minety were not penalised league points for not playing a league fixture against Bradford. Well done to Steve Wilson and his 8 or so players who made the trip and played a friendly match, for the second time this season. If Minety had simply declared concessions at both top of the table Amesbury and Bradford last Saturday the team would have had just 6 points to show for the 1st half of the season. As it is, 10 points have been retained that might have been lost by the willingness of Steve and his players to go out and play in spite of low numbers.
Elsewhere, Amesbury’s hold on the table was maintained through another Walk over win. The match between 2nd placed Combe Down and third placed Warminster was not available on Sunday evening but one would think that a win for Combe Down would be essential if they were to mount any sort of challenge on Amesbury in the 2nd half of the season.
3 of the four declared fixtures ended with Home Walkovers and the points gathered by Chippenham and by Bath Saracens, who won convincingly against Supermarine, leave Minety 2nds also in 7th place in their league at the half way point.
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