A GUTSY performance and some superb tackling from Minety in this Dorset & Wilts Division One game were not enough to hold back leaders Sherborne.

Having scored four tries at Minety earlier in the season, Sherborne number eight Richard Nias was a marked man this time round.

The close attentions of his opponents kept him quiet for long periods of the game, but he still managed to get away to add yet another try to his tally.

In total, Sherborne scored three tries in the first half to make it 15-0 in their favour at the break.

Minety came back strongly in the second half and tries from captain Dave Pierce and number eight Keith Arrell kept their hopes very much alive.

A breakaway try from Sherborne shattered the dream, however, and further late scores from the hosts ensured that their victory was ultimately by a comfortable margin.

"I was delighted by our guys', performance,'' said Pierce after the game. "They played out of their skins but in the end we were outclassed. The score line somewhat flatters Sherborne, but they were very strong up front and there was no doubt that they were the better side on the day''

With a full programme of league and cup games ahead, Minety are still on the lookout for new players. Any one interested should contact Dave Pierce on (01793) 874533.

Minety 2nd 5 Cricklade 32

For much of this Dorset & Wilts Division Two North game, a greatly improved Minety second string put upstubborn resistance to the efforts of top-of-the-table Cricklade.

But the league leaders' well-organised back line always had the edge outside the scrum and when their hosts began to flag in the closing stages of the game, they were quick to exploit their advantage and pile on the points.

Cricklade got off the mark with a penalty goal from flyhalf Danny Lloyd and soon consolidated their lead with a breakaway try from outside centre Simon Howse, jinking his way through the Minety defence from the halfway line.

After that the home side regrouped and exerted a period of sustained pressure on the visitors. This eventually bore fruit when Paul Harrington took on the ball for Minety 10 metres into Cricklade's half.

Bursting through the initial cover he made it almost to the try line before his way was finally blocked.

Cricklade half-intercepted his pass out of the tackle but failed to control the ball, which was scooped up by lock David Maidment who made no mistake as he powered over for the try.

For a while the game hung in the balance, but then Cricklade broke the deadlock with the best try of the game as Lloyd made a break from half-way.

Jinking up the right flank, he beat the first line of defence and then floated a long pass inside to put away inside centre Gordon Aitken to score.

In the last quarter of an hour, Cricklade finally broke their shackles. Ball moved back infield from a ruck on the left flank five metres from the Minety line gave Howse another scoring opportunity, and then Aitken completed his hat-trick with a final brace of tries.