Marlborough 19 – 8 Frome
Marlborough won their first game in six with a determined second half defensive display in the rearranged match against a strong Frome side.
The game was touch and go if it would start in the morning with a waterlogged pitch and it was always going to be heavy under foot, a contrast to the originally scheduled day when the pitch was too icy.
The visitors got on the score board first with a penalty after 10 minutes. Marlborough replied with some good phases of play in the forwards before some good passing put Russell Westcott into the corner to score. Garth Bari got the conversion.
After 20 minutes a high clearance kick from Frome was caught on the run by Inosi Laqekoro, he stormed up the pitch before setting up the ball. The forwards played a couple of good phases, before the ball was released to Michael SIms who again showed his pace to score. This time the conversion was missed.
Once again Frome fought their way back into the game and scored an unconverted try of their own just after the half hour mark.
As the first half was nearing completion, the home forwards again drove the ball forward. Eventually Semisi Rasivo broke free and charged through a couple of tackles to score. Bari converted for a 19-8 half time score.
The second half saw Frome applying lots of pressure but a determined defensive performance held them out for the whole half. Marlborough lost Will Grant to a yellow card and then a red as he was guilty of some clumsy high tackles. The rest of the team stepped up and showed coaches Leo Tuliva and Lotu Ngungutau’s work on defence in training had worked well.
Marlborough gained a much needed win and look forward to the visit of Walcot next week.
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