MINETY upped their game in the second half to come away winners from this uncompromising Dorset & Wilts One North encounter.

Combe Down had the best of the early exchanges, pinning Minety back into their 22 and slotting a penalty after six minutes.

Despite some astute kicking from fly-half Jack Ward, the home pack failed to get traction and were second best to the committed Down forwards in the scrum.

Against the run of play, quick ball from a ruck 15 minutes in finally unleashed the Minety backs.

Breaking down the narrow side, fast hands and faster feet allowed Luke Radcliffe to cross over in the corner.

The remainder of the half was all Combe Down. A converted try on the half hour followed a series of bullocking forward drives and was just reward for their efforts.

Minety’s tackling was too ineffective to prevent Down extending their lead with an unconverted try seven minutes later, making it 5-15 in the visitors’ favour at the break.

Having received a roasting from coach Huw Jones, Minety returned to the fray with renewed vigour in the second half.

Awarded a penalty near their opponents’ line right from the kick-off, they took a quick tap.

Scrum-half Tom Fitzcharles caught Combe Down cold and scored a try by the corner flag.

A penalty by Ward took the score to 13-15 and set up a thrilling final half hour.

Minety regained the lead with a driving maul that inched, trundled and then galloped into Down’s 22.

When the visitors eventually halted it, Minety number eight Pete Roberts broke free and made light work of three defenders, touching down just right of the posts. Ward converted to make it 20-15.

Minety’s Ashley Windle fielded the restart just inside his own 22.

A superb break by Dale Langdown slashed open the Down defence and the move swept right then back infield before Dave Church powered over for a try.

Down struck back with an unconverted try just three minutes later to narrow the gap to 25-20, but Minety responded with another powerful try from Roberts and a successful conversion by Ward.

The last 15 minutes were desperately tense, with Combe Down exerting unrelenting pressure.

Squeezed into their own 22, Minety conceded multiple penalties until the referee’s patience expired and a yellow card reduced their numbers to 14.

A man down, they continued to tackle manfully, preventing further scores until a break by Langdown finally took play safely back down field.

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