Round-up of the grassroots rugby action – Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March.
Walcot bounced back from their defeat by Sherborne to get the better of Swindon here at Greenbridge Road on Saturday 28th March | Photo © Richard Briggs
Walcot bounced back from their thrashing by Sherborne to win at Swindon on Saturday 28th March and keep alive their hopes of landing the Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South championship.
The Black & Whites lost their top-of-the-table tie with the Dorset outfit the previous weekend but recovered in fine fashion to chalk up a 41-26 success at Greenbridge Road.
Unfortunately for Walcot, Sherb stay five points clear at the summit – effectively a six-point cushion because of their massive points difference – courtesy of a 26-12 home win over Devizes.
There are three rounds of matches to go in this division. The Dorset All Blacks must travel to Swindon and entertain Melksham and Frome, whereas Walcot will receive Frome and Marlborough 2nd XV and visit Corsham.
Swindon belied their lowly position in the table by taking an early 7-0 lead against Walcot. Taking advantage of the wind behind them, they kicked a penalty to the corner and then proceeded to the Lansdown-based team’s try-line for a score that was converted.
However, it was not long before Walcot’s Gabe Moore scythed through the opposition for a long-range try.
Shortly afterwards, Moore scored his second try, this after good work by Jonah Edwards. Cam Hamer booted the extras and the travellers were 12-7 in front.
The elements made passing tricky for both sides, meaning there was a lot of spilt ball.
But Moore was unlucky not to collect a third try as he was bundled into touch after pouncing on a loose ball.
Walcot did score again when, from a line-out, Adam Wilton showed his versatility by taking a crash ball, a series of rucks and mauls ensued and a penalty was converted into a five-pointer by Fin Dewar as the opposition relaxed, expecting a kick to the corner.
The danger sensed by Swindon became apparent as the match could easily have run away from them at this stage.
But the hosts upped their game and scored a good converted try to cut the deficit to 17-14.
Early in the second half, Walcot’s Pacey Skyrme secured a huge turnover at a ruck and wing Dean Griffith scored out wide.
A yellow card for Swindon’s number 8 for a second deliberate knock on allowed Walcot to record another score, Edwards running in from halfway in the 54th minute.
After Hamer picked up a loose ball and dashed to the try-line – the conversion making the score 34-13 – came two moments that the visitors felt stood out and showed what the club are all about.
A spokesman for the Black & Whites said: “The first was a defensive scrum, in which Swindon had a slight edge, where Bealy [Dave Beal], Wilts [Wilton] and Big Fletch [Neil Fletcher] combined to thwart the opposition when they thought an easy pushover try was a certainty.
“But ‘Not on my watch’ said Fletch and the resultant scrum had the Swindon number 8 picking up the ball and then getting turned over. Job done.
“Next was a simple pass that Simon [Shripark] gave to Cam to make sure he scored under the posts. A faultless line-out with Ed off-loading from on high, a simple direct pass from Jonah, a dummy run and then a superb break by Cam saw the best try of the afternoon which any team would have been proud to have scored.
“But it was Simon’s offload to Cam that stood out as it looked like the movement was going to break down a metre short as the Swindon full-back went in for man and ball. A grateful Cam just had to place the ball down to register our final points of the day.”
Swindon then scored two well-earned tries to ensure they finished the game with a bonus point.
However, Beal’s contribution came to an early end as he was ordered off by referee Ross Walker.
Combe Down won the Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North championship on 28th March – with three matches to spare.
The Down slammed visitors Fairford 50-10, meaning they are an unassailable 19 points clear of second-placed Minety.
Under head coach Jimmy Rees, Combe have won 18 of their 19 league matches so far, their only defeat coming at Minety in October.
The Black & Amber will return to Level 7 for 2026-27 after only one season’s absence, having been relegated from Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South last spring.
Rees said of the championship success: “Unbelievable achievement for this group.
“Many outside expected us to simply win the league and go straight back up. But what they didn’t see was the hard work, the commitment and the incredible buy-in from every player.”
Combe are already planning for next term and are looking for new players to bolster their squad. Player sponsorship packages are available.
Bath Ladies United romped to a 63-0 victory at Oxfordshire side Chinnor Kites on Sunday 29th March to maintain top spot in Women’s NC 1 South West (East).
The Blue, Black & White – who led 34-0 at half-time – will next be in action when they visit the currently second-placed North Bristol 2nd XV on Sunday 26th April.
North are three points behind Bath but could go into the big battle at the summit, albeit having played one match more than the Somerset side, as they will travel to third-placed Drybrook on Sunday 19th April.
No local men’s sides will be in league action over the Easter weekend, their campaigns resuming on Saturday 11th April.
Local results for Saturday 28th March:
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Swindon 26 Walcot 41.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Oldfield Old Boys 49 Castle Cary 24.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North: Combe Down 50 Fairford 10.
Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Chew Valley 3rd XV 15 Oldfield Old Boys 2nd XV 22.
Local result for Sunday 29th March:
Women’s NC 1 South West (East): Chinnor Kites 0 Bath United 63.
Local fixtures for Saturday 11th April:
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Walcot v Frome.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Hornets 2nd XV v Oldfield Old Boys, St Bernadette’s Old Boys v Avon.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North: Sutton Benger v Combe Down.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Avonvale v Melksham 3rd XV, Bath Saracens v Trowbridge 3rd XV, Salisbury 2nd XV v Combe Down 2nd XV.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Winscombe 2nd XV v Old Sulians.
Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Frome 3rd XV v Oldfield Old Boys 2nd XV, Yatton 2nd XV v Walcot 2nd XV.
