Minety blitz Devizes (From This Is Wiltshire)

MINETY were able to run in five tries to secure the bonus-point in their 27-3 victory over Devizes in extremely difficult conditions.

Heavy rain had caused the Minety pitch to turn into a quagmire, but the hard-working home side managed to contain their visitors and adapt best to the conditions to secure the win in Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North.

Devizes full-back Ryan Webb got things going with a penalty, but Minety soon struck back with a score from Dale Langdown as he powered over from short range for a try in the corner.

Soon after a chip ahead from Michael New wrong-footed the visitors, and Steve Brown scooped up the ball on the Devizes 22 and no-one could catch him as he sped in for Minety’s second try.

Each side had a player yellow carded, but while Devizes could make no headway against Minety’s resolute tackling, the home side continued to look dangerous as they attacked up the slope.

Awarded a penalty some 30 metres out, Minety piled left, tying in their opponents’ forwards before recycling the ball and shipping it in the other direction. Fullback Robin Greenway came into the line on the burst, dodged the struggling defence and hot-footed it over the line for try number three.

Prop Martin Coe’s successful conversion made it 17-3 at the interval.

Coe was in scoring action again at the start of the second half.

Having kicked to touch some 10 metres from their opponents’ try line, Minety snagged the ball at the resulting lineout and set up a maul. Devizes couldn’t hold them and Coe was driven over for a try.

The visitors raised their game after that, but though their pack scrummaged well and their jumpers stole more than their share of possession at the lineout, they were unable to make significant progress with the ball in hand.

But Minety did soon strike again, and after catching Devizes in possession number eight Gareth Peirce was slipped in for Minety’s fifth and final try.

It was also a successful weekend for the club’s second team, who beat Warminster 36-0.

Meanwhile, Cricklade lost 13-0 against Swindon College Old Boys 2nds in Dorset & Wilts Two North.