MARLBOROUGH’S 57-day wait for a South West One (East) victory ended on Saturday as Dorset club Wimborne were beaten 29-8.
Victory was vital for the team’s spirit after going almost two months without experiencing a win – a run that has ultimately ended the club’s realistic hopes of poaching a play-off spot.
But the tide finally turned in Marlborough’s favour at the weekend as a determined XV delivered their best performance of the season.
Fly-half Daniel Jones scored after only two minutes following some very good play and handling from Marlborough. He then converted his own try to earn the hosts a seven-point lead.
Wimborne then started to put together some very good phases of play and put Marlborough under pressure, but the home side defended their line exceptionally well and Wimborne could only register three points.
Marlborough then started to apply pressure which was rewarded with a very well executed try in the corner by Kane Marafono, but the conversion was missed.
From kick-off, Marlborough then built a very good line of attack but let Wimborne back into the game with some poor executions in Wimborne’s 22 - which resulted in the visitors gaining a break away try.
To their credit, Marlborough stuck to their game plan and just before halftime Kane Manafono finished another very good try, again the conversion was missed, as Marlborough led 17-8 at the break.
The second half saw Marlborough playing uphill into a howling gale, and possibly losing some advantage.
Despite the above, Jake Kane scored two minutes into the second half following a very nice build up, but the conversion was missed.
Five minutes later, Lemeki Moala crashed over the line to score Marlborough’s fifth try of the game and Daniel kindly obliged in getting the conversion.
That was the game’s final score as Wimborne failed to threaten Marlborough from there.
Elsewhere in South West One (East), Chippenham’s remarkable turn around in fortunes extended for another week.
This time, top three side Banbury were crushed 39-12 at home. Chippenham are now fifth, 14 points behind the play-off frame.
Trowbridge also played, though they lost 38-3 to Old Centralians.
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