A Minety team missing seven regular first-team players was comprehensively beaten by a well-organised Blandford team in the semi-finals of the Dorset & Wilts Vase.

Playing uphill in the first half, the Minety pack struggled against a powerful Blandford scrum.

On the back foot, the Minety backs had little chance to mount any sort of counter attack as Blandford ran in five tries.

In a more evenly-fought second half, it was only two tries for Blandford in the last five minutes that flattered the scoreline.

Minety coach Andy Ward said: “We played against a well-drilled side featuring a very strong pack. The tries all came about when our scrum was being forced back.

“I know it was a big defeat but I was proud of the way that our lads stuck to the task and never let their heads go down.

“There is much that we can take from this defeat as we resume our league campaign away at Melksham next week.”

Captain Wallace Hibberd added: “It was definitely our hardest game of the season. I think we defended well and there was much in our second half display that gives us hope for the rest of the league campaign.”