MINETY moved up to second in the table with a hard-fought bonus-point win to extend Devizes’ winless run to seven matches.

The visitors scored first with a penalty from skipper Jack Ward, but Devizes fly-half Gareth Davies soon replied in kind.

Late in the half, Minety’s Pete Hazell pounced on loose ball, broke two tackles before offloading to fly-half Tom Fitzcharles, who drew the last defender and slipped the ball to scrum-half Duncan Simpson, who went over, Ward adding the extras.

Just before the break, Tom Windle caught the restart and ploughed through five tackles before Davies hauled him down five metres short. Quick rucking kept the move alive and Simpson whisked the ball to Fitzcharles to go over, Ward agains converting to make it 17-3.

Playing on the wing despite a recent career at prop, Martin Coe added to Minety’s score five minutes into the second half with a 30-metre dash that capped a series of swift rucks.

Devizes came back strongly, camping on their opponents’ line. Under pressure in the scrum, Minety repeatedly offended and the referee awarded a penalty try. Davies kicking the conversion.

Minety moved Dale Langdown to fly-half, where his pace and vision created plentiful attacking opportunities.

When Devizes spilled possession having apparently halted the visitors’ latest attack, flanker Steve Brown plunged for the line and, tackled just short, popped a pass to Simpson who touched down.

Another kick from Ward made it 27-10 but Devizes had the last word as centre Craig Hurcombe drew his man and offloaded to full-back Eddy Darragh, who went over for the final try.

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