TWO tries from winger Martin Coe snatched a draw for Minety, who nevertheless surrendered the Dorset & Wilts One North leadership.

Fairford started with the slope and a strong wind to their advantage but Minety began well, pounding the visitors’ line for 20 minutes.

Skipper Jack Ward was held up across the line and an attempted penalty drifted away in the wind.

Fairford were dominant in the scrum and, after forcing the hosts back, number eight Chris Tanner picked up and drove over for a try.

Minety indiscipline cost them a further three points as backchat to the referee was penalised and Andrew Waite knocked over the kick.

With the wind behind them, Minety expected to get back on terms in the second half.

Instead, Fairford winger Michael Wrona pounced on loose ball, hoofed it upfield and outpaced the defence to touch down for a 13-0 lead.

Outplayed in the set piece, the Minety pack exerted themselves to compete in the loose and began to scavenge more possession.

With Fairford reduced to 14 men by a sin-binning, Minety fly-half Tom Fitzcharles booted a penalty, then made a break to set Coe away for a try in the corner.

With time running out, Fairford were again reduced by a sin-binning and Coe’s second levelled – but the conversion fell short.

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