MINETY lifted themselves off the bottom of the Dorset & Wilts One North table with a 41-10 win at home to fellow strugglers Bradford on Avon.

Playing on Chippenham’s new all-weather pitch last Friday night, Minety began strongly in a match played in blustery conditions.

Jack Ward seized upon a drive by the home forwards to crash over for a try as early as the third minute out wide on the right.

Garin Garland increased the lead midway through the half when the Bradford forwards were caught offside and penalised.

Bradford struck back in the 27th minute when they burst through the Minety defence to touch down on the right, but Minety soon responded when Chris Rule raced over from 30m, with Garland’s conversion making it 15-5 at half-time.

The second half was just two minutes old when Sam Hughes spotted a gap in the Bradford defence to score Minety’s third try.

Just six minutes later, Rule was on hand to finish off a fine crossfield move involving forwards and backs to score his second try of the evening, and Garland's conversion pushed the lead to 27-5.

In the 55th minute, Dave Cooke opened his season’s scoring account, latching onto a pass from Duncan Simpson and running in from 35m to score under the posts, Garland again converting.

Minety’s sixth try came on the hour when Ward seized upon a ball in his own half, spotted a gap in the Bradford defence and raced over 50m to touch down beneath the posts. Garland’s conversion put Minety 45-5 up.

Bradford scored a consolation second try late on with a pushover from their large pack as the home side began to tire but it was much too late to alter the final outcome.

Elsewhere, second-in-the-table Sutton Benger battled to a 18-16 victory away at Frome II.

However, it was a tough day for Calne as they were crushed 52-5 away at Warminster.

PEWSEY Vale came up agonisingly short on their trip to Corsham 2nd in Dorset & Wilts Two North, slipping to a 28-25 defeat.