Sat. 9th Oct. Dorset & Wilts Div 1 North. Swindon 2nds 0 – 25 Westbury
AFTER last week’s defeat against Royal Wootton Bassett, Westbury travelled to Swindon to play Swindon 2nd XV and to put right the errors of the previous game where penalties cost them dearly.
For the first 10 minutes the visitors had no possession of the ball at all and had to defend as Swindon camped in Westbury’s 22, setting up wave after wave of attacking moves. To a man, Westbury tackled and defended their try line until at last they were able to get the ball and break out of their own half.
The first score was from a scrum penalty when the Westbury forwards pressurised the home scrummage, forcing the penalty decision. Westbury’s scrum half, Mat Inseal, succeeded with the kick 3 – 0.
Westbury’s first try came a few minutes later when the centre, Joeli Navuku, broke through the defence and from half way, charged up field. With deft hands, he passed the ball to his supporting winger, Jamie Dixon, for him to score the try. Inseal was unable to add the conversion.
The rest of the half saw both teams trying hard to score tries, but with some determined defence by both sides, neither side succeeded. At the half time whistle Westbury were leading 8 – 0.
The second half started with the same ferocity as before, until after 15 minutes the Westbury forwards drove up field into the Swindon 22 with a series of pick and drives. Scrum half Inseal then spun the ball out to his backs for Joeli Navuku to break through once again, this time to score his try. Inseal kicked the conversion. 15 – 0 after 55 minutes.
Swindon then threw everything at the Westbury defenders, but still the White Horse Men stood strong and repelled these attacks. In fact, with just 10 minutes to go during yet another Swindon attack where they were within 5 metres of scoring a try, Westbury stole the ball, which then ended up in the hands of Winger Alex Down, who showed his pace to run the length of the pitch to score. The conversion was missed 20 – 0.
From the restart, centre Navuku again broke out from his own half and beating the tired Swindon defenders, scored his second and Westbury’s 4th try, giving the visitors a winning bonus point. Once more, the conversion was missed. 25 – 0 at the final whistle.
This was a good hard, but fair game of rugby played by both sides. Westbury had to both defend well and get the game plan right, which worked well for them.
Next week is a cup weekend, but Westbury have no game, having a bye in this round.
Reports by Paul Couzens
