Minety Academy 20

Royal Wootton Bassett Colts 5

MINETY triumphed over near-neighbours Royal Wootton Bassett in a ‘winner takes all’ match which doubled as both a league fixture and an U18s knock-out cup match due to a recent postponement.

Minety adapted quickly to the heavy conditions with their forwards providing a solid base for their backs to score.

The first try came after only four minutes when scrum half Garin Garland broke from the base of a scrum to feed centre Ben Kingston who cut through the Bassett defence to score.

In the 11th minute Minety went 10 points clear when a well-rehearsed catch and drive from a line-out resulted in Garland touching down.

Bassett woke up as the half progressed and lay siege to the Minety line but they were kept at bay by a determined defence, in particular a fine last-ditch tackle from Will Seaton on Bassett’s Eddie Geerah.

In the second half, accurate kicking from Minety’s Garland pinned Bassett in their own 22.

It was Bassett’s turn to provide the heroic defence, twice holding up Minety over the line. Whenever Bassett tried to run out of defence they were met with solid tackles from Minety’s Ollie Wild and James Talyor and their half backs were put under constant pressure from the Minety back row.

Eventually the pressure paid off with Kingston charging down a kick to score his second under the posts. Scott Lees added the conversion.

Minety continued to press and a penalty from Lees extended their lead to 20-0. As the match drew to a close Kingston was denied his hat-trick by a fine tackle from Tom Fieldsend inches from the Bassett line.

It was Bassett, however, who had the last word when Owain Kinsman got a consolation but well-earned try, his first of the season.

Minety now travel to Dorchester in the next round and although closing the gap on their rivals in the league, Bassett remain firm favourites.

MoM: Minety – Cameron Goodge; RWB – Ben Barstow.