WESTBURY travelled to play an Amesbury side, much changed from the team they played at home in December.
Westbury started well enough, and within five minutes, they were awarded a scrum five metres from Amesbury’s try line. The dominant Westbury pack shoved their opponents pack back over their own try line for Darren Fuller, playing at number eight, to touch down. Standoff Sam Leat kicked the conversion.
It took another 15 minutes for Westbury to score again when, from a lineout, they won the ball which was fed to scrum half Mat Inseal. He passed to prop forward Dan Ross, who had looped from the front of the line out. Ross then duly barged his way over the try line to score. Sam Leat added the extras.
Amesbury fought back and with their South Sea Islanders linking well and moving the ball wide, they scored a try in the corner of the pitch. The conversion was missed. The score at half-time had Westbury leading by 14 points to five.
The second half proved to be a really tough encounter, with the home side raising the pace of their game. They were rewarded with a try after 12 minutes when, with Westbury on the attack, the ball carrier tried to chip the ball over the defender. Unfortunately, the defender was able to gather the ball and with open space in front of him set off down the length of the pitch to score. This try was converted, making the score 14 – 12 to Westbury.
Sensing that the game could still be won, Amesbury went all out to try and score but Westbury held out and after 20 minutes were awarded a penalty inside Amesbury’s 22 metre line. The penalty was quickly taken with a tap and the ball moved out wide to centre Benn Huggett, who saw a gap in the defence for him to race through for his try. Once more Sam Leat kicked the conversion 21 – 12 to Westbury.
Amesbury came back and after 36 minutes scored an unconverted try out wide, near to the touch line. With four minutes to go, Westbury held on by keeping possession of the ball, to win the game by 21 points to 17. With both sides scoring three tries, the difference between the teams was down to Sam Leat faultlessly kicking all three conversions.
This win lifts Westbury to second place in the league, with local rivals Warminster one place behind, which will make the upcoming fixture at the end of March a very interesting game for both teams.
Report by Paul Couzens.
