Dorset & Wilts Div One North

Minety 28

Warminster 27

MINETY bravely held on to defeat second-placed Warminster in a seven-try thriller at Minety Fields on Saturday, emerging 28-27 victors after a pulsating encounter, writes Graham Cooke.

Both teams enjoyed the excellent playing surface, with one of Minety’s reserve pitches being used after the main pitch was declared too wet for rugby.

For the first time in many weeks, Minety coach Richard Hall was able to put out something akin to his strongest team with a powerful set of forwards and influential Dave Church and Jack Ward renewing their partnership in the centres.

The ability of Warminster’s Fijian centres to exploit the smallest of defensive gaps caught Minety out in the ninth minute allowing the visiting fly half to chip over the advancing defence and score beneath the posts.

Minety were reduced to 14 men when lock forward Ash Windle was yellow-carded for a late tackle in the 21st minute.

But the hosts hit back when captain Andrew Hibbard exploited some loose ball, kicked ahead and fly half Tom McAllister fed winger Ben Langridge who ran in to score from 30 metres.

Warminster were soon a man down after a head high tackle on McAllister and Garland slotted home the resulting penalty to give Minety a slender 8-7 lead.

Warminster struck back in the 34th minute when their winger avoided three tackles and ran in to score.

Minety’s response was to lay siege to the Warminster line and Garland, one of the smallest players on the pitch, somehow managed to smuggle the ball over for Minety’s second try, which he converted.

In the closing minute of the half Warminster regained the lead with a penalty.

Minety opened the second half in dramatic fashion.

Garland collected a clearance kick and ran back at the heart of the Warminster defence before off-loading to Ash Windle who shrugged off five tackles on his way to score under the posts. Garland’s conversion took the score to 22-17 for the hosts.

Only some desperate last-ditch tackling from Church and wingers Langridge and Dave Cooke prevented Warminster from scoring as the game entered its final quarter.

The home team’s desire to run the ball from their own line in the 61st minute cost them dear. An intercepted pass and then a ruck saw Warminster’s fly half touch down wide out on the right. The conversion was missed but the scores were now locked at 22-all.

Minety’s woes were compounded at the re-start when Langridge was yellow-carded for a high tackle but they re-grouped and changed tactics. Playing downhill and one man down, Minety resorted to tactical kicking to keep Warminster pinned in their own half.

Garland restored Minety’s lead in the 76th minute with a penalty.

The final minutes were pulsating – both teams abandoning defence for all-out attack, much to the crowd’s delight and the obvious frustration of both sets of coaches.

Garland extended the lead to six points with another penalty as the game entered stoppage time.

But there was to be a sting in the tail in the final play of the match, Warminster won a scrummage against the head, spread the ball out wide and scored a try in the corner.

The long range conversion attempt which could have won the match, fell agonisingly short.

Minety MoM: Ash and Tom Windle.