MINETY put in a barnstorming second-half performance to turn a 12-point deficit into an emphatic 24-12 win over rivals Trowbridge 2nds at the weekend.

Weeks of rain had produced a slippery playing surface but, with a superior lineout and scrum and excellent driving play, Trowbridge dominated much of the first half.

Attacking downhill, they put together a string of mauls which forced their hosts back into their own 22 and set up a try after 10 minutes as their ball carrier broke from the melee to power over the line from two metres out.

A penalty kick to touch on the half hour mark set up Trowbridge’s next score as their pack secured clean lineout ball and drove confidently over the try line. A good kick secured the extras and Minety were 12 points down.

The second half was a different story. If Minety have often played better, they have rarely played with greater passion and purpose.

When the Trowbridge number 16 felled an opponent off the ball but right in front of the referee at a lineout, he was promptly yellow carded. Taking a quick tapped penalty, Minety darted right and then moved the ball left down the threequarter line and inside centre Dave Church piled over for the try and Minety were off and running.

A magnificent try by Tom Windle, who bundled through four attempted tackles on his way to the line, gave Ward the conversion attempt which he kicked to level the score.

Scrum-half Max Sparrow caught his opponents napping by squeezing down the narrowest of blind sides before sprinting 60 metres down the touch line for a try in the corner.

Another unstoppable run from Windle secured the fourth try and Tom Fitzcharles’ successful conversion brought Minety’s tally to 24 points.

Minety coach Huw Jones was quick to commend his players after the game: “That was a superb performance,” he said. “Having been 12 points down at the break, we kept them under pressure for the whole of the second half to secure a four try bonus point win.”