With Westbury 1st XV having a two-week break in the league, it was a good time for the club to reinstate their 2nd XV. So, the call went out for new or retired players to fulfil this fixture against Melksham 3rd XV on Saturday 28th September.
The Westbury team was made up of several retired players, a couple of youngsters and a few regular players returning from injury. The afternoon’s rugby was played in perfect weather conditions and was to produce an entertaining game in which 13 tries were scored.
Melksham were to be first on the score sheet with three well-taken tries, all within the first half an hour. Westbury responded with two tries, the first scored by debutant Alex Pearce, making his first appearance for the club. Scott Lowe scored the second of the tries, with Mat Inseal converting.
Melksham were leading by 19 points to 12 at half-time. The second half kicked off and with Scott Lowe scoring his second try within one minute. Westbury got off to a flying start and the cobbled- together Westbury team were starting to gel and play some good rugby, which resulted in five more tries, scored by Ryan Knight, Nial Fagan, Ben Huggett, Dan Ross and Josh Ford.
In between these tries, Melksham added two more of their own. At the end of the game, Westbury scored eight tries, with Mat Inseal adding five conversions and Melksham scored five tries converting four of them. With a scoreline of 50 points to 33, this proved to be an exciting game of rugby, played in great spirit by both teams.
Westbury would like to thank Melksham for arranging this fixture and looks forward to visiting you at your Oakfields ground in February.
Next week, Westbury 2nd XV has an away game against Frome 3rd XV, and with further fixtures to come later in the season they will be putting the call out for more players to fill the team.
Any player wishing to dust off their boots and play some social rugby will be more than welcome. Just turn up to training at Knott Field, which is in the White Horse Country Park, Coach Road or contact the club at westburyrugbyclub@gmail.com. Even arrive on match day with your boots.
Paul Couzens
