Dorset & Wilts Div One North

Minety 38 Trowbridge II 8

MINETY returned to winning ways with a side which boasted eight changes compared to last week’s threadbare squad at Marlborough.

Two Minety stalwarts were making their first appearance of the season and the victory was a fitting way for Max Smith to bow out as a Minety player However, it was Trowbridge who led on eight minutes through a penalty.

Minety then began to up their game, their physicality putting Trowbridge on the back foot. The first Minety try came after 20 minutes following a turnover in midfield which resulted in centre Jack Ward crashing over.

Minety’s second came on the half-hour mark. With Trowbridge fielding a Minety kick inside their 22 but failing to call ‘mark’, Robin Greenway wrapped up the Trowbridge full back and Luke Radcliffe was on hand to canter in under the posts; Ash Windle converted.

A searing break from Pete Roberts left would-be tacklers in his wake until he popped the ball out of the tackle to Duncan Simpson who raced away for a fine try. Ash Windle again added the extras to give Minety a half-time lead of 19-3.

Minety’s fourth (bonus point) try came 10 minutes into the second half when Dale Langdown finished off a fine move in the corner. Minety then spurned a number of golden chances, choosing individual glory over team tries.

Ward did, however, score his second try when choosing not to use the spare men outside him; Windle converted to make it 31-3 Minety’s final try was another Ward creation. Making a break from the halfway line, he powered down the slope towards the posts only to be hauled down five metres short.

As he landed, he offloaded to dynamic prop Will North who was arriving like a train and his 50-metre support run was rewarded with a try under the posts.

Windle converted to make it 38-3 with three minutes to go.

Trowbridge had a final foray into the Minety half and came away with a consolation score right on the final whistle.