Marlborough Rugby 1st XV achieved a historic last kick 31-29 victory over Windsor RFC in the Southern Counties League promotion playoff to secure promotion to the South West Division 1 East league – Marlborough’s highest ever position.
Next season Marlborough 1st XV will be rubbing shoulders with the big local teams such as Swindon, Chippenham and Bassett and competing in the sixth tier of national rugby for the very first time.
Saturday’s head-to-head at Windsor’s Home Park ground was between two teams who enjoyed almost identical seasons in the North and South divisions of the Southern Counties leagues and it went down to a conversion of a Mitieli Vulikijapani almost on the final whistle. New kicker Will Grant cooly slotted the conversion to give Marlborough not just the win but a momentous place in the long history of the club.
Marlborough look forward to building for next season and their first ever time in level 6 of the NAtional heirarchy. Huge credit to all the players, coaches and back room people and the whole clubs celebrated all evening in traditional style!
For a full match report by Mike Banfield – click here
Bumper funds for Wiltshire based children’s charity
