MINETY maintained their winning run, stretching back to October, with a win over Dorset & Wilts Division One strugglers Colerne.

Playing downhill in the first half, the home team took just three minutes to register their first score, when centre Dave Church hammered through the defence to score near the posts.

Scrum-half Garin Garland converted before in the 11th minute, a flowing move saw winger Ben Langridge score near the corner.

When flanker Stephen Brown scored Minety’s third try in the 14th minute the home side were 17 points up and flying.

The bonus-point winning fourth try was scored in the 25th minute by second row forward Tom Windle, with Garland converting from in front of the posts.

Two more first half tries by Garland, both of which he converted, saw Minety turn around at half time with a 38-0 advantage.

The second half was in direct contrast to the first.

Overly anxious to play the expansive rugby that has seen them race up to second place in the league, Minety wasted possession with a series of dropped passes and floundered in the dreadful conditions as the waterlogged pitch cut up badly.

It was no surprise when Colerne scored their only try of the match in the 74th minute.

Coach Andy Ward rang the changes late on and Matt Roberts, a late second-half substitute, was able to break through and score under the posts in the final minute, with Garland converting as Minety consolidated second spot.

Minety coach Andy Ward said: “I’d like to concentrate more on how much we’ve improved this season rather than that match.

"We didn’t play well, we know it and we’ll need to improve upon our performance. But this squad has real depth and potential and I’m really proud to be their coach.”

Captain Will North added: “We knew we had to get the bonus point to keep pressure on the league leaders and we managed that in the first half but then it all went to pot in the second half. We’re a force to be reckoned with when we set our minds to it.”

Minety host Gosford All Blacks in the national cup rounds on January 2.