Sat. 1st December. Dorset & Wilts 2 North Westbury 20 Trowbridge 3rds 5

Westbury welcomed Trowbridge to Knott Field expecting a difficult match; like most derby games, the form book goes out of the window.

Although Westbury started well with the lion’s share of possession and territory, they failed to cross the try line.  This was down to some basic errors in ball handling and Trowbridge defending well.

The home side did have the chance to open the scoring with a couple of kickable penalties, but turned down the kicks at goal in an attempt to score tries,  but once more failed to cross the white wash.  After 25 minutes Westbury were again awarded a penalty when a Trowbridge player failed to release the ball when tackled.  Captain Aaron Vaughan decided this was the time to take the points on offer and duly kicked the ball between the uprights.

Westbury’s first try came a few minutes later when a Trowbridge player was trying to run the ball out of his 22 metre area.  Westbury centre Lee McClerg, tackled the player and managed to strip the ball from his opponent’s grasp.  Lee then set off toward the try line and with winger Koro Sitiveni in support, he offloaded the ball to his team mate to put Koro over in the corner.  The conversion was missed.  The score remained the same until half time.  8 – 0 to Westbury.

The second half started with Westbury determined to stamp their authority on the match and so went all out in attack.  They were rewarded when Trowbridge were forced to carry the ball over their own try line and from the resulting 5 metre scrum, the Westbury forwards drove the Trowbridge pack back over the line for Westbury’s No 8, Tom Redman, to dot the ball down.  Once again the conversion was missed. 

The home side’s final score came 5 minutes later when attacking in the Trowbridge 22, they were awarded yet another penalty.  Quick thinking scrum half Matt Inseal took a tap and passed the ball to stand off Vaughan who cut through the defenders to score under the posts.  Vaughan then converted his own try. Trowbridge were never out of this match and always looked threatening and indeed had the last word when Westbury again were on the attack deep into the Trowbridge half and a loose pass was thrown which went to ground.  The defending fullback booted the ball upfield and set off after it.  The ball refused to go into touch and he was able to grubber kick it towards the in goal area and beating the Westbury players to the ball, touched down for his side’s only try.  20 – 5 to Westbury at the final whistle.

Next week, Westbury have an away fixture against the unbeaten league leaders, Frome 2nds.