Melksham RFC 26-5 Chippenham II – Dorset & Wilts 1 North, Saturday 11th March

Perfect conditions set the scene at Melksham’s  home ground for the contest against Chippenham II.

Both sides set a cracking pace, testing one another in an intense opening period. The battle for territory ebbed and flowed for the first 30 minutes of the game until the Melksham backs co-ordinated an attack out through mid-field, with strong work from winger Callum Gillard offloading to Full Back Cameron Bull, with work to do, stepping the defenders to score and break the deadlock. Fly Half Callum Hurn adding the extras.

The restart for the second half brought a tightening grip on the game from the home team. Captain Charlie Radcliffe finishing a break down the blindside to touch down in the corner. Three minutes later, from broken field play, centre Ben Brown broke away through mid-field to score. Hurn slotting the posts to take the tally to 19 unanswered points.

For the first time in Melksham’s half since the restart, the visitors mounted a sustained attack and were rewarded with a try after battering away at the defence. The visitors continued to press but were thwarted by great cover tackles coming in to deny them. The home team re-established their momentum and pressured the Chippenham line, the attacking forwards hammering away for Matt Plumb to force his way over. Hurn adding the conversion to the final points taking the score to 26-5 in Melksham’s favour.