Last minute try and conversion earn Melksham a draw- Rugby: Minety 19 Melksham 19

Melksham travelled away to Minety, expecting to encounter a strong performance from the villagers. 

Minety strategically electing to play uphill in the first half were first on the scoreboard, with three points from a penalty.  Melksham’s Phil Stone answered in response with a good passage of passing play through the hands, to touch down. Both teams vied for territory, the last pass denying the visitors until Nick Suter shook off defenders to dive over for the next try. Conversion added by scrumhalf Callum Hurn.

In the second quarter, handling errors from both teams slowed the game, the home team striking with three points from another penalty. At half-time the score was 6-12.

A strong performance in the second half was rewarded for Minety with a converted try edging them into the lead by a point. Two further penalties stretched the lead, with the offending Melksham team paying the price. With fresh legs from the bench, the visitors began to rally and hands out wide to replacement Jordan Wakeley resulted in a try, the crucial last minute conversion by Callum Hurn to draw the game 19-19.

Debut appearances for Sam Goulding and Austin Reid, man of the match – Phil Stone.