Westbury took the short journey over the county border to play their unbeaten neighbours Frome 2nd XV.
The game started in high winds and with the weather gradually deteriorating, Frome, using the elements which were in their favour, plus using their heavier forwards to carry the ball, battered at the defensive Westbury line. For twenty minutes the visitors repelled Frome’s attack. In fact, Westbury looked dangerous on the counter attack. But it was from a visit into Frome’s half that the first try came, when the Frome backs were able to go wide with the ball and Westbury ran out of defenders, allowing the home side to score a try which was also converted.
Approximately 15 minutes later, with Westbury again under pressure, the ball was passed back to skipper Aaron Vaughan, who was in his in goal area, to clear to touch. Unfortunately the kick was charged down and the ball shot back over the dead ball line. From the resulting 5 metre scrum, the heavy Frome pack shunted Westbury backwards over the line to score a try, which they failed to convert.
Westbury’s points came a few minutes later, when during one of their forays into the Frome 22 metre area, a Frome player was guilty of a high tackle on the ball carrier and the referee then awarded the attacking side a penalty, which captain Vaughan kicked between the uprights.
Half time arrived with the score at 12 – 3 to Frome.
With the weather getting worse, Westbury just about had the elements in their favour. The possession and territory gained in this half was much better for the White Horse Men, indeed they crossed Frome’s try line 3 times, but each time were held up and so failed to get the score. To be fair Frome also had a couple of scoring chances but the referee did not give the tries.
The final score stayed at 12 – 3 to Frome, leaving Westbury still 3rd in the table. This was a good, hard game of rugby and with both sides competing against the elements, it made for an entertaining match. Westbury’s man of the match, who was chosen by Frome’s captain, was flanker, Logan Smith.
Next week Westbury have another tough encounter this time at home, when they entertain the league’s second placed team, Marlborough 2nds.
