MINETY’S unbeaten run in Dorset & Wilts One North came to a halt at Trowbridge II on Saturday as the villagers went down narrowly 26-24.

Scrum-half Garin Garland opened the scoring for the visitors with a fifth minute penalty after a series of swift attacks down the centre.

The visitors edged further ahead before the midway point in the first half as a huge kick from fly-half Sam Hughes was kicked over the dead ball line by the defence. From the ensuing 5m scrum, winger Dave Cooke and flanker Ash Windle were halted at the line before Garland did get himself over before adding the kick himself.

The home side struck back three minutes later with a converted try of their own and would then take a 14-10 lead into half-time following a second touchdown after a period of intense pressure in which Minety lost both centres to injury.

Minety were first to strike in the second half and after a burst from Chris Rule disrupted the defence, the ball was taken on by second row Ben Scott before Garland found Andrew Hibbard, who cut back under the posts for a try converted by Garland.

With their first incursion into Minety territory in the second half, Trowbridge disrupted a scrum and after a series of forays to the line, they crashed through and the conversion made it 21-17 entering the final quarter.

As both teams hunted a winning score, Minety pushed forward again and regained the lead when Rule collected a clearance kick and ran the ball back before Garland spotted a gap to score a converted try.

Minety spurned another chance soon afterwards and were made to pay when their defence failed to deal with a Trowbridge clearance and the hosts were able to score. Although the conversion was missed, the home side were back in the lead at 26-24.

In a desperate last 10 minutes, Hibbard, Rule and Hughes all went close but a last-gasp tackle kept Minety at bay as Trowbridge held on.

Elsewhere, Calne, Sutton Benger and Pewsey Vale remain on just one win apiece this season after all three were beaten at the weekend.

Calne were crushed 59-10 at home by leaders Combe Down, with Massi Ifferemo touching down and Liam Kearney adding the other five points with the boot.

Sutton Benger shipped 31 unanswered points to lose 45-27 at home to Warminster, having built up a healthy 27-14 lead at one stage.

Pewsey came closest to a win but ultimately went down 43-34 at home to Chippenham II.