RUGBY: Fairford maintain title push (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

RUGBY: Fairford maintain title push

12:00pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in Sport

Dorset & Wilts Div 2 North.
Fairford 21
Swindon College Old Boys II 15.
FAIRFORD edged past a strong Swindon College Old Boys side at the weekend in a back-and-forth encounter.
Fairford started strongly and eventually broke through the Old Boys' line. Some clinical play from the line-out earned them a penalty but fly half Andy Dowan hit the post.
Old Boys retaliated with their superior backs featuring some first-teamers and caught Fairford on the break, scoring in the corner.
The home side then got some consistent pressure going and their line-out was once again prominent. They were the smarter of the sides and captain Ben Goodey opted for Dowan to go for two penalties – both were duly converted to leave Fairford 6-5 up at the break.
Fairford started the second half with centre Steve McCann earning himself a debatable yellow card but the away side were unable to score. Once the teams were on levels terms again, the improving Fairford back line started to give the oppositon trouble and after quick hands and a slick pass from Andy Waite, Jason Patmore backed himself to race to the corner; Dowan slotted the tricky conversion.
With Old Boys now predominantly first-teamers, they turned the screw and scored another two tries to take the lead.
The momentum then seemed to shift and after strong work from the Fairford pack, scrum half Pat Dee peeled off the back of a maul and scored in the corner.
Captain Goodey showed good nous to allow Dowan to continue his good day with the boot and take the hosts out of reach.