AFTER a heavy defeat by Malmesbury the week before, the Minety second string were pleased to return to winning ways with a swashbuckling performance.

Regaining the services of several key players, they ran rings round their opponents and scored five good tries.

With home advantage and a heavier pack, Martock dominated the opening 10 minutes of the game. Then their visitors began to find their feet, and, upping the pace, ran in two tries in quick succession, the first scored by left winger Darren Crannis and the second by flanker Richard Dolman.

Later in the half, when Martock spilled ball under pressure in their own 22, Minety were quick to seize possession and Crannis was on hand to run in for his second try.

Martock got into the scoring action just before the interval and the second half started with the score at 5-19 in the visitors' favour.

Playing his first game since breaking his leg last season, club captain Charlie Gawthropp looked very sharp at number eight and capped his return with a typically rugged try, battling his way through two tackles and taking one man over the line with him, as he crashed through for a try from 10 metres out.

The last try of the game went to captain Mike Strong, who latched onto a popped pass from Gawthropp before touching down in the left-hand corner. Newly returned from honeymoon, fly half James Tweedale kicked the conversion, scoring his third goal from five attempts.

This Saturday, Minety seconds travel to Trowbridge in the preliminary round of the Dorset and Wilts second XV cup.