Walcot enhance championship push on weekend of postponements

Round-up of action from the local grassroots rugby scene – Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th January.

Walcot moved into second place in Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South by winning here at Melksham on Saturday 24th January | Photo © Richard Briggs

The weather played havoc with the local grassroots rugby last weekend, with numerous matches called off.

Among the games to bite the dust were Combe Down’s home clash with Minety in Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North – it will now be played at Holly’s Corner on Saturday 31st January – and the Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset fixtures involving Avon and Oldfield Old Boys.

One match that did go ahead provided a big boost to Walcot’s hopes of claiming the Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South title.

The Lansdown outfit travelled to Melksham and recorded a 29-22 victory on Saturday 24th January, the result lifting them into second place courtesy of Swanage & Wareham’s 19-0 defeat at Sherborne in the top-of-the-table tussle.

The Dorset All Blacks lead the way with 57 points from 14 outings, with Walcot three points behind but holding a match in hand.

And the Swans are now in third spot with 51 points from 14 fixtures.

Walcot’s game in hand on Sherborne will be played on Saturday 31st January – at home to Devizes, the fixture that was called off earlier this month due to the death of Craig Hurcombe, a stalwart of the Wiltshire club.

Walcot 2nd XV also played on Saturday 24th January. But they lost 19-12 at home to Chew Valley 3rd XV in Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North.

Chew started strongly and dominated Walcot in the scrum, denying them clean, quick ball.

Fine defence by Walcot held back Chew – but the visitors still led 17-0 at the turnaround, their third try coming right on half-time.

The home side rallied in the second period, helped by their scrum achieving parity with Chew’s.

This enabled Walcot to get good ball and use their backs – and they started to put their guests under pressure, reducing the arrears sufficiently to earn a losing bonus point.

Bath Ladies were able to play their home game with Richmond in Women’s Championship South 1 on Sunday 25th January, despite their Lambridge Training Ground base being waterlogged.

The match was switched to Albert Field, Walcot’s headquarters, but Bath were beaten 21-5 by the league leaders who have lost only once in 12 matches and have an incredible points-difference of 500.

Kyara Martin was Bath’s forward of the match. And Lois Bird was their back of the match.

Bath Ladies United skipper Beth Dombkowski was set for make her 50th appearance for the side in their match at Ellingham & Ringwood on the same afternoon.

However, the Women’s NC1 South West (East) fixture at the Hampshire venue was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, meaning Dombkowski will have to wait a little longer to reach her milestone.

United’s next match is at home to Forest of Dean team Drybrook on Sunday 8th February.

And the Blue, Black & White will go into it in second place in the table, North Bristol 2nd XV taking advantage of their inactivity on Sunday 25th January to move into pole position by seeing off lowly Melksham 31-12.

Local results for Saturday 24th January:

Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Melksham 22 Walcot 29.

Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North: Combe Down v Minety – postponed.

Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Avon v Imperial – postponed, Keynsham 2nd XV v Oldfield Old Boys – postponed.

Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Avondale 58 Bath Saracens 5, Melksham 3rd XV v Combe Down 2nd XV – postponed.

Counties 3 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Old Redcliffians 3rd XV v Old Sulians – postponed.

Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Oldfield Old Boys 2nd XV 23 Nailsea & Backwell 3rd XV 7, Walcot 2nd XV 12 Chew Valley 3rd XV 19.

Local results for Sunday 25th January:

Women’s Championship South 1: Bath 5 Richmond 21.

Women’s NC 1 South West (East): Ellingham & Ringwood v Bath United – postponed.

Local fixtures for Saturday 31st January:

Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Walcot v Devizes.

Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North: Combe Down v Minety.

Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Rebels Rugby v Avon.

Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Combe Down 2nd XV v Salisbury 2nd XV, Trowbridge 3rd XV v Bath Saracens.

Counties 3 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Midsomer Norton 2nd XV v Old Sulians.

Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Walcot 2nd XV v Imperial 2nd XV.

Local fixture for Sunday 1st February:

Women’s Championship South 1: Henley Hawks v Bath.