Saturday 16 February 2013
Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North
Three in a row
Swindon 2nd XV 5pts – Minety 1st XV 21pts
A renascent Minety ran in three swashbuckling first-half tries to notch up a convincing away victory over Swindon seconds, their third win in a row.
For the first 40 minutes, the hosts had no answer to Minety’s relentless pressure. Forced into errors, Swindon gave away ground and possession and when the ball went loose near their own try line, centre Dave Church was swift to pounce for Minety’s first try.
The second was a true team effort. Having worked their way into Swindon’s 22, Minety won good scrum ball and spun it wide to winger Robin Greenway, who scorched down the touchline to dot down in the corner.
When the dominant Minety pack won possession against the head at a scrum on halfway, number 8 Gareth Peirce picked up from the base and set off at a canter before slipping the ball to scrumhalf Duncan Simpson. He passed to fullback Tom Fitzcharles, who sliced through the Swindon defence for a try from 40 metres out.
All three tries were successfully converted by Michael New, the second in particular being a difficult kick from out wide.
Swindon made a spirited response in the second half. Led by their large forwards, they battered the Minety line but for 30 minutes were unable to break the visitors’ resolute defence. Eventually, they crossed the line, but the conversion kick hit the upright and five points was the all home side could muster.
After the restart, Minety got their hands on the ball and hung onto it. Returning to the attack, they closed out the game in their opponents’ 22.
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