RUGBY: Minety extend winning run to three at Swindon (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Minety do the damage in the first half

11:29am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in Sport

Dorset & Wilts Div 1 North.

Swindon II 5 Minety 21.

THE revival continues at Minety who 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, No.8 Gareth Peirce picked up from the base and set off at a canter before slipping the ball to scrum half Duncan Simpson. He passed to full back 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 on to it. Returning to the attack, they closed out the game in their opponents’ 22.