MINETY continued their fine start to the league campaign in casual fashion as they overcame near neighbours Cricklade on Saturday 28 September.

The home side gave a fine first-half display but were unable to maintain their effort for the whole 80 minutes and ended up conceding five tries while scoring none.

Winger Simon Barrett got Minety under way with another fine try to add to his impressive tally, and was followed onto the score sheet by flyhalf James Tweedale.

Fed possession after his forwards had mauled their way to within a few metres of the Cricklade line, Tweedale stretched out and successfully grounded the ball for a try despite the best efforts of the Cricklade defence to stop him. Following Tweedale's conversion of his own try, Cricklade enjoyed their best period of the game and slotted two penalty goals to reduce the visitors' lead to six points.

When Minety failed to turn a penalty goal attempt of their own into points, Cricklade restarted the game with a drop-out on their own 22.

Minety captain Charlie Gawthropp caught the ball and ran it straight back at the home side, handing off one player before being tackled just short of the line. Falling onto his back, he flipped the ball into the path of lock Craig Smith, who buffeted his way over for his first ever try in a league fixture.

After another successful conversion, the teams turned round with the visitors 13 points ahead.

Minety began to exert more authority in the second half and were awarded their fourth try when fullback Luke Huckin entered the three-quarter line at pace, broke a tackle and scored under the posts.

Having posted an easy conversion kick, Tweedale then missed with a penalty attempt only to make up for it immediately by gathering the ball from Cricklade's drop-out and lofting a superb drop-goal from 30 metres out.

Minety ended the game in dominant fashion, and winger Ian Northcott took a well-timed pass from centre Tom Fitzcharles before racing up the touchline for the final try of the game.

The two sides meet at Cricklade again on Saturday in a friendly fixture.