Dorset and Wiltshire under 17s Cup
Stoneover Lane, Wootton Bassett

Wootton Bassett under 17s overwhelmed visitors Trowbridge with an emphatic 52 -7 victory at the weekend. The win was all the more remarkable given that the home side squad contained eight players from the Bassett under 16 team.

Cup games are always tense affairs as Club honours are at stake and this being the first real test of both sides, the win was all important.

Bassett asserted themselves straight from the kick off with an expertly placed kick from under 16 Greg Davies. Bassett’s forwards were amongst the visitors as soon as the ball landed and the home side contained Trowbridge within their 22. Attack after attack rained in relentlessly forcing the visitors into conceding penalties.

The early pressure paid off when after only 9 minutes into the match scrum half Greg Davies darted around the blind side of a scum and fed wing Kyle Burroughs who rounded his opposite winger and slid over the line in the corner to open the score. Davies calmly converted the difficult kick to give the home side a further boost of confidence.

Trowbridge faltered at the restart, their kick not making 10 metres. The resultant scrum gifted an excellent platform for Bassett to come back and score again through Andy Saunders. Greg Davies, undaunted by the challenge of yet another touch line kick converted once more.

The home side were now fully in control and were able to move the ball at will. Although Trowbridge clearly had the stronger pack and had the Bassett pack reeling backwards, the home side front row competed well and were able to win the ball against the head in the scrum time and again.

Sam Bardwell was next to get on the Bassett scoresheet as he brushed aside the Trowbridge defence to power over the line, with Davies converting again.

A monetary lapse of concentration allowed Trowbridge through to score a converted try, but rather than allow Trowbridge back into the game this gave Bassett an incentive to attack even more ferociously. From the restart the Bassett pack drove Trowbridge back towards their own line and rucked quick ball, as they would do throughout the match, and from good second phase ball, man of the match Ryan Warren took two defenders with him as he drove over the line to score before the end of the first half which closed 26-7.

The fierce pace of the game continued into the second half. Trowbridge kicked off but were again placed under immediate pressure. Kyle Burroughs sliced through the defence to score his second try in the corner, with Davies once again adding the conversion.

A rampant Bassett pack gave its speedy back line excellent ball from every phase of play and further score followed from Captain Gavin Ougan, Sam Bardwell, and replacement Rob Hart. Greg Davies converting two of these to bring his personal points tally to 12.

Trowbridge rallied towards the end, and although came close to crossing Bassett’s line the result was never in doubt.

Bassett’s 52-7 win was well deserved and they will present a formidable obstacle to those who have ambitions to lift the under 17s trophy this season.