2nd XV Match report: Five Try Minety seal the deal

Minety 2^nd XV met up with Royal Wootton Bassett IV’s on Saturday 5^th October in a Dorset and Wilts Division 3 North fixture at Minety Fields.

Minety chose to play uphill in the 1^st half on a well grassed pitch against strong opposition and with a number of players making their debuts for the village side. In the opening exchanges Minety took the game to Bassett but were pushed back in the scrums but countered with some strong defending tackles and a willingness to run the ball from deep in their own half.

Bassett settled early and were soon pressurising the Minety line but fine smothering tackles from fly half Will Mason and his defence repelled all attacks.

When Bassett were awarded a scrum 5 metres from the Minety line in the 10^th minute the ball was won against the head with Mason picking up the ball in his own goal area.  Instead of touching down for a drop out the young fly half chose to run the ball, beating two defenders and racing 50 metres down field before off loading to William Cook, the winger running in the try to put the home side 5 – 0 up.

Impressive scrum half Jamie Jamieson-Black began to dominate in mid field as the Minety pack, featuring father and son Phil and Ben Ward, kept the game tight.

As the half developed so play moved into Bassett territory, Jonnie Leong taking good ball at the lineout and Jamieson-Black and Mason stretching the Bassett defence. When Bassett did launch an attack, the Minety defence was resolute and well organised.

Minety should have doubled their lead in the 30^th minute when a clear over lap developed but they over elaborated and the chance was lost.

With half time approaching, Bassett were penalised for a high tackle 5 metres out wide on the left wing. Mason audaciously lofted the ball the width of the pitch straight into the arms of Jack Cook who touched down for MInety and a 10-0 lead.

With the last play of the half Jamieson-Black picked up a lose ball and burst through the Bassett defence to score a fine solo try and extend the lead to 15-0.

The second half was 6 minutes old when Bassett scored from a tap penalty close to the Minety posts to bring the score back to 15-7.

Both teams threw caution to the wind as they sought the next score.  The Jamieson-Black and Mason combination initiated a number of attacking moves while the pack more than held their own.

Bassett squandered a great opportunity in the 65^th minute when the ball went to ground with the try line beckoning and were made to pay when Jack Cook scored his second try of the game, ending a fine backs’ move to brush aside two defenders and run in to register Minety’s 4^th try.

Minety sealed the victory with another impressive try, this time from Henry Skipton-Carter.  A Bassett kick ahead was charged down and Skipton-Carter collected the ball 40 metres out to run in and score Minety’s 5^th try and extend the lead to 25-7.

Two late converted tries from Bassett bought the visitors a losing bonus point as Minety ran out of steam in then final minutes of the game but it was the villagers who hung on to bag the points by 25-21. 

2^nd XV team manager Steve Wilson was delighted with the performance.  “It was a fantastic effort from the whole team.  We really stuck at it and showed great determination.  There were some promising debuts and I look forward to the rest of the season, confident that we can put together a really competitive campaign.”

Squad: Matt Park, Dan Overend, Ethan Whitehurst, Phil Ward, Ben Ward, Angus Clifford, Tom Waldron, Jonnie Leong, Jamie Jamieson-Black, Will Mason, Scott Tomlins, Ryan Walker, Bram, Coleman, Ned Lockwood, Sam Thmpson, Henry Skipton-Carter, Jack Cook and William Cook

Man of the Match: Jamie Jamieson-Black