Minety RFC defeat lively Corsham in a league encounter (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Minety RFC defeat lively Corsham in a league encounter

MINETY RFC put in one of their best all-round team display of the season to beat a lively Corsham side 20-3 in on Saturday's forthright league encounter.

Playing down the slope and with a stiff breeze at their backs, Corsham dominated the early stages.

An early penalty goal attempt fell short, but a second finally gave them a three-point lead.

After that, Minety gradually began to wrest back control.

A penalty goal from fly-half James Stokes brought the hosts back on level terms and, when Corsham kicked the ball-dead from the restart, Minety were quick to launch another attack.

After Minety were awarded another penalty. Stokes slotted a goal, giving his side a three-point advantage at the interval.

Mid-way through the half and just when it seemed that the visitors might finally shake off their shackles, Minety secured a crucial turn-over, thanks to flanker Dave Miller who pounced on a spilled ball.

With his fellow pack members in support, possession was recycled to the waiting half-backs.

When Stokes neatly kicked over the heads of the defence, centres Paul Harrington and Luke Huckin streamed after it with Corsham hastily back-tracking in an effort to cover.

Huckin wrestled possession and although he was held, he fed the ball to Harrington who powered through a tackle to score the first try of the game. Stokes kicked the conversion.

After the restart, Corsham attempts to mount attacks repeatedly foundered on the reef of Minety's well-ordered defence before ball lost in the tackle allowed the home side to counter.

Although flanker James Smith crossed the line and appeared to have landed a perfectly good try for Minety, the score was not given by an unsighted referee.

The subsequent five-metre scrum enabled No 8 Keith Arrell to pick up and drive for the line. Corsham attempts to stop him were defied, and this time the referee was perfectly placed to award the try. Stokes added the conversion.

This result leaves Minety securely in fourth place in the table with only one match to go.

Their final league game of the season is away against Calne on Saturday, April 17.