Dorset & Wilts Div One North
Fairford 8 Melksham 19
FAIRFORD put on a solid first-half display against Melksham, who are a place above them in fourth, only to let it slip in the second half.
The hosts started well, edging possession in the middle of the park and getting the upper hand in the scrum.
An infringement early on gave fly half Harry Johnson the chance to put Fairford ahead with a penalty from 45 metres out. Unfortunately, it fell just wide.
Not to be deterred Fairford kept pressing and were shutting Melksham out at the other end.
Despite several visits to the Fairford 22, Melksham failed to capitalise thanks to some some excellent defending of the driving maul by the home side.
Before the end of the half Fairford struck first. A well-worked backs move allowed Ed Keogh to break and he assessed his options before picking the perfect pass to wing Chris Tanner, who finished well from 10 metres.
Fairford were buoyant after their first-half performance and even added to it early on in the second stanza through a Johnson penalty.
Soon, however, injuries to key players meant a reshuffle in the Fairford back line and they were unable to recapture their rhythm.
Melksham scored a good try after shifting the defence about to find space to go over.
The second and third tries were much more infuriating for the home supporters.
A lack of organisation at the breakdown allowed a Melksham player to run in almost unopposed after picking up of the back of a ruck.
The next try resulted from a kick-through that the visitors pounced on sooner than their opponents.
Good first half aside, Fairford will need to make sure they are more clinical in weeks to come if they are to make half-time leads count.
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