Counties 2 Tribute Dorset & Wilts Central. Sat 26th Nov. Bradford on Avon 5 Westbury RFC 33
WESTBURY RFC travelled to Bradford on Avon looking to continue their winning form.
Westbury started strongly and from the kick off made early progress. After some good phases by the forwards, the ball was passed to fly half Sam Leat, who powered through to score Westbury’s first try. Sam added the conversion to make the score 7-0.
Westbury’s forwards continued to carry the ball well and gain good field position for the backs to exploit. After some strong carries from flanker Ryan Knight and prop Josh Carden, Sam Leat again found a gap in the defence and crashed over for his second try, once again converting to take the score to 14-0.
Bradford rallied and with their fly half kicking well, pushed the visitors back in to their own half but Westbury’s defence stood strong and held the Bradford attack. With veteran scrum half Matt Inseal going off injured, the stand in scrum half, Josh Carden was settling into his role and marshalled the forwards well. Strong carries saw the pack march up the pitch for George Brown to crash over. Conversion was missed taking the score to 19-0.
Westbury were guilty of switching off and the Bradford attack again made good ground. Westbury held them out and ended the first half well.
The second half kicked off and from a well worked line out, the ball was spread wide and good ground was made and centre Jamie Dixon ran a superb line to crash through and score Westbury’s fourth try of the day. Conversion successful 26-0 to Westbury.
Westbury were now guilty of switching off again once more and Bradford were using the width of the pitch well. Their fly half kicked through and after a foot race the Bradford winger controlled the ball well to score Bradford’s first points. Conversion missed 26-5.
Bradford continued to attack well and found space out wide but Westbury continued to defend manfully. Following some stern words from captain Michael Tuck, Westbury switched back on and pushed up the pitch. After several pick and goes, the pack hooker Jack Bates crashed over the line. The conversion was again successful. 33-5.
This is how the game ended. As always, the man of the match was decided by club president and company who chose front row/scrum half replacement Josh Carden.
Report by Jack Bates.
