6:00pm Tuesday 24th January 2012
AN OUTSTANDING team performance and hat-trick of tries from winger Dale Langdown earned Minety a bonus-point win over promotion prospects Supermarine in Dorset & Wilts One North.
Supermarine had slope and weather in their favour in the first half but were continually thwarted by Minety’s dogged defence.
The South Marston side scored an early converted try, but Minety responded with a 15-man onslaught up hill and were eventually awarded a penalty of their own in Supermarine’s 22.
Lock Matt Hooper made the initial charge before the ball was passed blind to centre Jack Ward. His step and dummy created space outside for Langdown to burst through and score in the corner.
Ahead 7-5, Supermarine made an energetic start to the second half but could not get past their opponents.
Instead, Minety stormed down the slope, retaining ball through successive phases.
Hooker Wes Clamp took quick ruck ball and slipped it to Langdown, who came onto it at speed and clattered down the touchline for another try in the corner.
With both sides going flat out, the result hung in the balance. First Supermarine launched a charge up the right-hand flank. Their winger chipped ahead, won the race to the ball and touched down to give his team back the lead, a try which was converted.
Then Minety’s predatory number eight Andrew Hibbard pounced on loose ball to put the home team back in front.
Ward’s successful goal kick made it 17-14, but Minety were then hit by a sin-binning and Supermarine created an overlap out wide to score again.
With the clock ticking down, Minety were now 17-19 down but an astonishing 40 metre run from Langdown saw him weave and dodge through the visitors’ defence for his third try of the afternoon.
Ward’s conversion put the hosts five points clear before prop Martin Coe put the seal on victory with a powerful try by the right-hand corner flag.
A STRONG Combe Down 2nd team proved too much for Minety’s second string in Dorset & Wilts Three North.
Short of players due to injuries and late cry-offs, Minety struggled against highly mobile opposition, who won 38-7.
Minety’s only points came from a try by Will Howse that was converted by Andy Edwards.
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