Promoted Malmesbury fail to 'bridge the gap (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Promoted Malmesbury fail to 'bridge the gap

MALMESBURY'S entrance into Dorset & Wilts Division One North ended in a 15-5 defeat at the hands of Swindon 2nd.

Malmesbury travelled to Greenbridge after last year's promotion and they fielded a new-look side with Jim McManus at tighthead after the retirement of Ade Jacques, Kiwi Brent Dravitzki at centre and Dominic Mason on the openside flank.

The two packs were evenly balanced in the scrummage,while the lineouts were evenly contested.

Thomas, at fly-half, soon became involved in a kicking contest against David Worker, and it was Swindon who opened the scoring with an unconverted try.

A trip on Al Keyes denied Malmesbury what could have been a try, while the guilty Swindon player was sent to the sin bin.

Malmesbury equalised soon after when fly-half Huw Jones wrestled his way through the Swindon fringes and touched down

Thomas repeated his probing of the touchlines but from one passing move, full-back Pailor entered the line and outflanked the visitors to score and give the home side a 10-5 cushion at the break.

Swindon held their visiotors in their own half for most of the second period.

Centre Steve Packer almost scored, Dravitzski just managing to pull him down short of the line.

Thomas was instrumental in Swindon's last try and after his long kick, Malmesbury turned over the ball and Paea touched down.

A hat-trick of tries by Steve Reynolds laid the foundation for Devizes 3rd's 43-3 away win against Trowbridge in their Dorset & Wilts Division 2 North encounter. Ryan Wallbridge and Julian Taylor each scoredtries, two of which were converted by scrum-half Andy Thompson.

MINETY 2nd's match against Supermarine 2nd was called off due to the dangerous nature of Minety's rutted and cracked pitch.