Monks rugby team enjoys a winning habit (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Monks rugby team enjoys a winning habit

PLAYED on a bright, but cold, winter's afternoon, Malmesbury Monks put on their winning habits to take the Dabchicks' unbeaten home record from them by a goal, a penalty goal and three tries, to two tries.

The home side, which boasted a weighty, well organised pack, bore heavily on their rivals and won most of the scrums by pushing the visitors back over their own ball while heeling their own put-ins easily.

While Nigel Thacker and Paul Steen equalled the efforts of Malmesbury's Aled James and Tom Neal in the lineouts, it was only in the last quarter, when the home side's energy was running out, that the visitors' superior fitness started to tell and their back row came into their own.

Before that, the strength and weight of the home side's pack were used effectively in rolling mauls from lineouts and breaks in play, forcing the visitors to work hard to contain the situation.

Behind the scrums, Malmes-bury's Steve Brady was forced to play behind a retreating pack, which gave Pete Hughes ample time to supply Beresford with good ball to launch his backs into attack.

On the Malmesbury side, Kristian Arens' speed off the mark and calculated use of mismoves kept the hosts on their toes and finally won the visitors the match.

Charlie Longsdon, the Dab-chicks' full-back, proved a thorn in the visitors' side with fast and elusive entries into Aldbourne's threequarter line, taking several Malmesbury tackles to stop him.

Pearse also led several strong forward rushes. Kris Arens opened the scoring for Malmesbury with a penalty goal after 15 minutes and rather against the run of play.

The visitors then spent most of their time in their own half and gave away several penalties, though Struan Cochrane was unable to capitalise on these mistakes.

However, a rolling maul developed in the aftermath of one of these kicks and the home side's back line put Joe Salcedas away for a try with Aldbourne taking a five points to three lead at this stage.

Malmesbury opened the second half with a handling move which involved seven players and put Steve Brady in for a try, which Arens converted.

James Lawrence replied for the home side with a try taken from the back of a pushover, which Cochrane failed to convert. It was now ten points apiece.

The home side began experimenting with short lineouts and missed passing moves to try and get their creative players more ball.

Even so, the visitors stretched the defence line, bringing the full-back in and effectively stifled this.

Eventually, Arens was involved in a break into space down the right-hand side and King made a long run before passing inside for Hutton to touch down to give the visitors a five-point lead.

Malmesbury's last two scores came from Huw Jones, who took ball from behind loose mauls and made the final metres.

The game was played in good spirit, which was emphasised by the home team's hospitality afterwards.

Malmesbury travel to Colerne this Saturday to play the Dorset & Wilts II North league leaders.

This is an important match for The Monks who currently trail league leaders Colerne by a single point.