AFTER a good bonus point win against Chippenham 3rds earlier in January and last week’s fixture postponed, Westbury travelled to Royal Wootton Bassett keen to pick up the momentum again.
The match started well for the visitors when Wootton Bassett, under pressure in a lineout, threw a pass out to the centres, which was mishandled and Westbury stand-off Aaron Vaughan pounced on the loose ball and touched down for the first try which he duly converted. Ten minutes later Vaughan added a penalty to take the score to 10 – 0.
The rest of the half was hard fought with both sides keen to attack. Until Bassett were awarded a penalty in Westbury’s 22 metre area. Being close to stoppage time they quickly set up a driving maul to score their opening try but failed to convert leaving the score 10 – 5 at half time.
Westbury were quickly into the second half and full back Matt Greatley had the try line beckoning but came up five metres short. Luckily, second row forward Marcus Holstead, ever in support, was able to finish off Greatley’s good work and score in the corner. The conversion was missed.
Again Bassett set up a series of attacks and, from a speculative kick ahead which was poorly dealt with by the Westbury defence, they were gifted a converted try.
Virtually straight from the restart Westbury won a lineout and the ball went to Logan Smith, standing in the centres. Smith just put his head down and barrelled his way over the try line. Once more the conversion was missed.
Again Wootton Bassett put in a series of attacks but the Westbury defence did well, standing firm. It was Westbury’s captain Nigel Kershaw who had the final say when, from just inside the Bassett half, he set off and left the defenders clutching at thin air, scoring the bonus point try. 25 – 12 to the visitors at the final whistle.
This was a much improved performance by Westbury and with Wootton Bassett playing their part it made for an exciting match for the spectators to watch.
