Minety made it three wins in a row at the weekend with victory over Sutton Benger.

Tom Claxton’s first XV took to the newly refurbished pitch at Minety. They were Beaten only once in 22 outings last season to win promotion to the top tier. Benger put in a spirited display before succumbing to a slightly under par Minety writes Graham Cooke.

Minety kicked off into the wind and were soon using the pace they possess in the backs to push the visitors back.

Benger found it impossible to get out of their half in the first 10 minutes as Minety launched attack after attack but the visitors’ quick defensive line speed and tackling kept the home team from scoring.

Against the run of play, Benger opened the scoring in the 13th minute. A clearance kick and a series of forwards’ moves pushed them to the Minety 22 and a clever break from their fly half released the winger to score near the corner flag.

After coming close two minutes later, the home side didn’t have to wait long to get back in it.

Simpson caught a clearance kick 40 metres out and flung a long pass to Hughes. His huge 'up and under' bounced and winger Ben Langridge reacted and seized the opportunity to score. Ward drilled the conversion between the posts and Minety led 7-5.

As the half came to an end Minety pushed forward again and pressed the Benger line. The pressure told when Ben Sellick picked up at the base of a scrum five metres out and crashed through the defence to score and put the home side 12-5 up.

Coach Andy Grayson made three changes at half time, giving a season’s debut to second row Ash Windle, bringing on Colin French to replace Cameron Smith at prop and substituting Dave Cooke for the returning Steve White.

The home side dominated the early exchanges in the second half with Simpson secure under the high ball and Ward putting in crunching tackles in midfield.

Ward stroked home a penalty in the 45th minute after another huge kick from Hughes had caused panic in the Benger defence.

The visitors stormed back once again, using their forward power and keeping the ball in tight. A tap penalty set up their second try, the forwards rucking aggressively before the ball went out wide on the right for a try.

Minety struck back immediately from the restart.

Simpson launched a kick up field and was first on hand to pick up after a defensive drop, off-loading to Sellick, who ran in under the posts to extend Minety’s lead to 20-10.

Most of the last 10 minutes was played in the Benger half as Minety sought their bonus point winning try but they had to wait until the 77th minute for that to come.

Ben Scott caught a lineout ball on the Benger 22.  Hughes slipped a pass to Rule and then carried the ball on again to break the line. Simpson took the ball on before passing to Howse to score beneath the posts.  Ward converted and Minety were home by 27-10.

The win keeps Minety in 4th place in Division 1, just one point behind 2nd placed Avonvale.