Saturday 10 September 2011
Dorset & Wilts Division 3 North
Dreamers get off to a win
Trowbridge 3rd XV 5pts – Minety 2nd XV 16pts
Second team skipper Steve Murray writes…
We knew it would be a tough fixture away to Trowbridge following the first team fixture with them last season. In the event, Trowbridge fielded a strong 20-man squad, all of them looking like forwards, and it was one of the most physical games we have had for years.
Their number 10 was feisty but their 13 was the size of a tower block and a strong, direct, runner.
The Dreamers, for once, played a tactical kicking game. Every time the opposition came into our 22, we stole the ball and our fullback Andy Edwards pinned them back into their own 22 with a good long kick. Moving the Trowbridge pack around tired them out and their size meant that even some of the elderly Minety forwards could overtake them!
Under pressure, Trowbridge made mistakes and gave away penalties. Edwards capitalised for Minety with three well-struck goals to give us an early nine-point lead.
Flyalf Willie Howse also kicked beautifully from hand, clearing our lines and frustrating Trowbridge’s attacks. Minety’s tackling, especially of their huge number 13, was legendary.
The Minety pack dominated the set pieces using some of their new moves. Our scrum was surprisingly effective seeing that it contained no fewer than four props, with Jon Sheppard stepping up to the front row while Cam Smith and Steve Muray got their first taste of life in the second row.
Just before the break, Howse kicked Trowbridge back inside their five metre line. They panicked at the lineout that followed and as the Minety forwards charged down the kick, Trowbridge fumbled the ball. Prop Jon Sheppard pounced on it for a try and Edwards kicked the conversion to make it 0-16 at half-time.
Although the second half saw Trowbridge repeatedly beaten back by strong Minety defending, they finally managed to bash their way through for their only try of the game.
Trowbridge’s tempers began to flare. Their first yellow card came when one of their pack was penalised for repeatedly killing the ball off his feet. His departure was shortly followed by that of the still feisty number 10 who took a quick lineout on his own when it was a Minety throw and used the occasion to punch Andy Brown.
After a bruising encounter, the final whistle found Minety in command of the field and away winners 5-16.
Minety’s Man of the Match award was shared between Jon Sheppard and James Stewart on his return to Minety after two seasons at University.
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