Malmesbury lose record to Blades (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Malmesbury lose record to Blades

Supermarine 2nd inflicted a first defeat on Dorset & Wilts Division 2 North leaders Malmesbury as they ran out 22-12 winners.

Supermarine fielded a stronger forward unit than their defeat earlier in the season, and that proved key.

Set scrums were far from easy for the home side and Dan James stole several of Martin Balshaw's put-ins and, missing usual tighthead Adrian Jacques, Malmesbury found themselves going backwards.

The match was 35 minutes old before the first points came, Mark Sheppard going over after a five-metre scrum.

Malmesbury responded soon after with a try from No 8 Huw Jones, but Sheppard replied with a second try, which he converted and Jones covered this with a try under the posts, converted by David Worker.

Locked together at 12-12, the game became an end-to-end duel in the second half and it was Supermarine's defences which eventually won the day.

Malmesbury went close on several occasions but each time found themselves thwarted by the visitors' determined work.

At the other end, Marv Woodhouse and Sheppard, his hat-trick, found gaps in the home defence to clinch their victory.