SUPERMARINE player-coach Sean Millwaters insists his side’s 5-5 draw with high-flying Melksham in Dorset and Wilts 1 North at the weekend illustrates their development in the past 12 months.

In the corresponding fixture last season, Marine were thumped by more than 70 points by Saturday’s visitors, but a strong forward performance, helped by the elements, ensured that Marine held out for an impressive point.

Furthermore, Millwaters believes that the hosts had the upper hand for much of the afternoon and, but for a momentary drop on concentration, could easily have gone on to claim what would have been an impressive victory.

“It was a very tight game,” Millwaters admitted. “It was a quality result for us seeing as Melksham are not up the top of the league by a fluke.

“We had a game plan and, like last week, went out there and stuck to it.”

Last weekend Marine’s strategy did not prevent a 15-minute blip during which Marlborough touched down three times, and Millwaters was slightly concerned that events would repeat themselves against Melksham.

“The fact that we didn’t get the win came down to a lapse again,” he said.

“But credit has to go where credit is due and the boys played well. Melksham knew they had been in a game.”

The visitors grabbed a 56th minute equaliser after Gary Trevett went over for Marine just after half time, and Millwaters claims that the hosts had the best of the play over the course of the 80 minutes, even if the overall standard was somewhat tempered by the conditions.

“It was not a good game of rugby but we really stepped up to the mark in the pack,” he said.

“It was a typical forwards game in the mud.”

Melksham pushed their opponents all the way and Marine endured some anxious moments as the referee consulted with his linesman and assessor, whether to award the visitors’ conversion, that appeared to clip the underside of the crossbar.

That conversation would continue long after the final whistle, with Melksham convinced that it should have counted.

Nevertheless an excellent defensive effort, particularly from prop Paul Bishop, held Melksham at bay as the final whistle approached.

“Although we went away with a point, we all know it should have been more,” said Millwaters.

“The lads are really disappointed to come away with a draw. When we play for the full 80 minutes and not just 60 or 70, there will be no stopping us.

“We are still a work in progress at the moment but everything is going to plan.”