Gloucester Two

Smiths (Industries) 38 Minchinhampton 19

SMITHS Industries and Minchinhampton both contributed to a game which was an excellent advert for local rugby.

But Minch left the grand surroundings of the Prince of Wales Stadium in Cheltenham feeling they should have got more out of the game.

Having beaten top-four side Old Colstonians in their previous game, Minch were in confident mood. So too were Smiths who had not lost at home having been promoted last season.

Smiths started strongly, moving the ball with confidence and good ball retention saw them gain an early try which was converted.

Minchinhampton were soon dominating the scrum, driving the Smiths pack back as one to win a penalty. A kick to the corner maintained pressure and Minch battered the Smiths line repeatedly.

From a defensive scrum five yards out, Minch gained a penalty and Smiths lost a man to the bin.

Eventually the referee awarded a penalty try as his patience with the Smiths defence wore out.

From the restart Minch changed tactics and released the ball quickly to the backs, with a pin-point cross-field kick being finished off out wide.

This sparked the opposition into life and on the stroke of half-time the Minch defence were finally broken, conceding a try which left the interval score at 12-12.

From somewhere Smiths found another gear. They started the second half at pace, moving the ball away from the contact area quickly, looking for offloads and soon scored in the corner.

Subsequently ten minutes of stalemate were broken by an excellent kick-chase from Smiths, forcing a turnover on the Minch 22. Again quick recycling and good hands saw Smiths clinch their bonus point try in the 54th minute (24-12).

Minch responded well, continuing to dominate the scrum which allowed them to pressure the home team’s line. A turnover and then a knock-on allowed Minch to score under the posts, with the conversion making it 24-19 on 62 minutes.

Both sides were then forced into changes due to injuries.

Smiths returned to the fast-paced game they had adopted earlier and they caught the Minch defence napping on the 22 from a line-out to score a fifth try.

The game became scrappy with a multitude of knock-ons and Minchinhampton’s scrum dominance not as apparent as earlier.

The home side started to kick long forcing Minch to attack from deep before sheer pace from the Smiths centre got him to the try line for the closing score.

Minchinhampton firsts are at home on Saturday to Aretians, while the Rams play Cirencester III in their league.