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

Mixed display does include try of the season for Matt Boulton

9:42am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Sport

Dorset & Wilts Div 2 North.

Melksham II 17 Fairford 22.

FAIRFORD continued their title challenge with a workmanlike win over Melksham seconds.

Melksham pressed Fairford early on and the visitors struggled to clear their lines.

But the potential champions rallied and scored a well-worked try with Ben Hunt bulldozing a winger to score.

Fairford quickly doubled their lead by scoring the try of the season from the restart.

‘Ants’ Little broke the line before offloading to flanker Guy Livermore. He, in turn, found captain Ben Goodey who allowed the returning Matt Boulton to splash under the posts; Steve Keating kicked the conversion.

Fairford rested on their laurels, though, allowing the opposition back in with a try from a quick penalty.

Fairford started to find more rhythm, playing in the opposition's half, with backs and forwards getting an equal share of the ball. A good spell ended with Jason Patmore combining well with Andy Waite before the latter scored in the corner.

Again, Fairford were unable to cope with the tricky surface and the pitch lent a hand for the hosts' second try, Boulton slipping under a tackle to spoil an otherwise good performance.

Continuing the frenetic pace, Fairford extended their lead with the last play of the half. Several phases resulted in a maul with Graham Van Sawyer claiming his first try of the season.

In the second half, Fairford struggled to manage the game and were devoid of rhythm, barring a good spell of possession by the pack.

They were able to hold Melksham off for much of the half, although they did concede one try, with Jake Barstow winning a penalty to stop another.