4:40pm Tuesday 3rd April 2012
REDUCED by injury to 14 men, Minety were unable to defend a slender second-half lead and finally went down three tries to one in a scrappy and ill-tempered game at Swindon.
A drop goal from skipper Jack Ward after 10 minutes gave Minety an early lead, but when Ben Parfitt jumped for a kick, he fell awkwardly and was forced to leave the game with a broken ankle.
This was particularly tough on Parfitt, who was playing only his third game back after 18 months off following an operation on his shoulder to remedy an injury sustained while playing last season.
Minety had travelled with only one replacement, Academy player Dave Cook, who had a good game on the wing.
With five minutes to go before the break, Swindon had the visitors penned back into their 22.
Minety attempted a clearance kick, but their opponents ran it back it at them, scoring a try in the corner to make it 5-3 at half-time.
Tempers flared after the restart and both sides had a player yellow carded for fighting.
Nevertheless, Minety took the lead with a fine running move from their threequarters who showed great hands as they put Robin Greenway away for a try under the posts. Ward added the conversion.
Then disaster struck for Minety as injury reduced thsm to 14 players.
The hosts took advantage to score two more converted tries and snatch victory.
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