Gloucester Div Three

Tetbury 7 Minchinhampton 52

MINCHINHAMPTON made it eight wins in as many games in the league with an emphatic victory at Tetbury.

From the start Minch looked comfortable using their powerful back line to gain territory, and soon posted an early penalty. From the restart, Minch attacked again, moving the ball at pace through several pairs of hands before winger Fitzcharles beat two tetbury players to score; Muskett made the conversion.

Tetbury responded with some attacking phases of their own, but the Minch back row of Sparkhall, Goulding and Brookman forced a turnover and led a charge upfield. Again quick hands sent Allen over under the posts. The try was converted making it 17-0 after just nine minutes.

Minch’s fast tempo was too much for Tetbury and after another surge from the pack with the Wood brothers prominent, No.8 Brookman raced in under the posts.

Bell, Maller and Rosser-Smith provided scrum dominance, and after a period of Tetbury pressure when the defence held firm, a long clearing kick and great chase led to another Minch penalty at the breakdown.

From the restart, Tetbury duly responded with a well-worked converted score.

But, as has been the pattern all season, Minch reasserted themselves, attacking the Tetbury 22 through strong forward play, setting the platform for Fitzcharles to chip through for his second. The conversion made it 34-7 to Minch at half-time.

Tetbury started the second half strongly, but a long-range Minch penalty ended the period of stalemate.

Strong running from centres Fox and Allen led to another infringement at the breakdown from Tetbury, resulting in a further penalty.

Minch had to wait 20 minutes for the next score, but they were clinical when the chance came, Humberstone finishing a superb team effort, with the converted try.

The interplay between backs and forwards was outstanding in the final minutes. Loose defence from Tetbury allowed the final score with flanker Sparkhall showing great pace and a winger’s step to finish in the corner and bring up the 50.

A good day for all, but special plaudits go to fly half Muskett for his 22-point haul, Miles Owen for his return to the firsts after a long injury absence and Tom Goulding for his man-of-the-match performance.

Coach Crawford said: "A superb effort all-round. All 18 players involved showed why we remain unbeaten in the league. Tetbury did not make it as easy as the score-line may suggest.

"We're playing with confidence and a belief we can win every game. Now the clinical edge we needed is there too, so hopefully it will continue."