MINETY finished their season in style with a comprehensive bonus point-win over mid-table Melksham.

Dorset & Wilts Div One North

Melksham 5

Minety 32

It left them joint top on 80 points with Bradford-on-Avon but an inferior points difference meant that, though winning promotion to the Southern Counties league they just missed out on the title.

Last week’s leaders and odds-on favourites Supermarine fell at the final hurdle, going down 8-7 to Trowbridge seconds, which left them in third place.

When Melksham and Minety met in the first league game of the season, the contest ended in a 5-5 draw.

But Minety, knowing they needed to score at least four tries in order to have a chance of winning the league, started in brisk fashion.

Two scintillating tries from winger Duncan Simpson and one each from lock Tom Windle and flanker Steve Brown put paid to any hopes Melksham had of getting on even terms this time around.

Three conversions and two penalty goals from skipper Jack Ward completed the job for Minety, while the home side could manage only a single unconverted try in response.

Minety finish their outstanding season with a tour game in Plymouth on Saturday, April 26, followed by the Minety Sevens Festival on Saturday, May 3. The seven-a-side competition promises to be a great day out, with 15 teams in the men’s competition and no fewer than 10 sides contesting the ladies’ cup.