RUGBY: Minety 5 Marlborough 32 (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

RUGBY: Minety 5 Marlborough 32

6:00pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in Rugby

MARLBOROUGH proved fitter and faster as they overcame their hosts in muddy conditions in Dorset & Wilts One North.

The unbeaten visitors made the perfect start with a try from Nick Clarke before the game was two minutes old.

Minety, with Academy flanker Rob Hinwood performing well out of position on the wing, held solid for the next half hour, even crossing their opponents’ line, though they spilled the ball in the process.

Nathan Morgan kicked a penalty for the visitors before teammate Hugh Sutcliffe squeezed in for a try in the corner after a chip to the touchline.

Morgan missed a difficult conversion, but a basketball-style overhead pass inside soon put Taniela Delaitamana away for Marlborough’s third try, with the conversion successful.

Minety skipper Tom Fitzcharles missed an easy penalty late in the half but promptly made up for it with a skilfully-executed try.

Minety lost Ben Scott with a dislocated shoulder in the second half and were forced to draft in Lee Patterson from the second XV game on a nearby pitch.

Marlborough again scored early, this time from a simple move off the back of an attacking five metre scrum as Dave Lemon claimed the try and Morgan added the extras.

A fine in-and-out passing move from half way set up Clarke for the final try of the game.

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