Malmesbury RFC in danger of losing championship (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Malmesbury RFC in danger of losing championship

HAVING done all the hard work to get to the top of the table, Malmesbury RFC are in serious danger of throwing away their chance of a league championship with a second defeat in a row.

It was lucky for them that title-chasing Colerne also lost, and so the championship will now go the wire with Malmesbury needing to win their final two games to be certain of that title.

Away to Warminster on Saturday, the visitors were without regular wing-forwards, although Huw Jones still managed to have a positive influence on Malmesbury's forward game.

But Malmesbury had hardly formed up when the home side scored their first try, although Gavin Pratt failed to make good his extra two points by bouncing his conversion attempt off the far upright.

Malmesbury skipper Paul Hutton made up the score after eight minutes with a try along the left wing, which Kris Arens failed to convert.

Four minutes later, Warminster re-took the lead when Clark outran the opposing defence, fielded his own kick-ahead and scored a try. This time, Pratt was on target for a 12-5 lead.

The travelling side then made a positional change, moving Stuart Wright to full-back, Chris Hunt from full-back to right wing and Justin King to inside-centre.

On 25 minutes, Arens kicked a penalty goal when the hosts' pack did not retire quickly enough from a previous infringement.

And Malmesbury took the lead when a maul developed on the right-hand side of the field, Arens, taking the ball blind, scored in the corner.

He missed the conversion, but converted Huw Jones' try five minutes later to make the half-time score 20-12 to Malmesbury.

Warminster attacked from the start of the second half. Clark kicked a long way downfield, but this time, kick-and-rush tactics were foiled by Arens.

Despite being pressed hard, the visitors' defence held firm. In a counter-attack, Chris Hunt was forced into touch on the line.

The away team were pushed back from the Warminster line at several scrums before Dave Coleman intercepted a Malmes-bury pass to score a converted third try the the home side.

With the result on a knife- edge, Malmesbury finally gave away a possible win by presenting Pratt with two easily kickable penalties to give his team a 25-20 win.

Malmesbury RFC entertain Swindon 3rds at The Worthies on Saturday, 3pm ko.