This was the first time Winscombe had visited Trowbridge since they played each other at Green Lane in the 1970s. It was also the first time the Somerset side had visited Doric Park as a result of the league reorganisation this season.

Trowbridge welcomed back James Davies and Jack Pike to the side and Lee Fairclough and Will French were chosen to play from the bench. Pike was playing for the first time for several years, following his return to the club at the beginning of last season and Prop Dan Jenner missed his first match of the season.

For the early stages mistakes were made by both sides and this was typical of sides struggling to make a real impact on proceedings. Most of the play was in the visitors half but neither side gained a significant advantage. Both defences held firm until the second quarter and Trowbridge opened the scoring after several phases close to the Winscombe line resulted in Rory Murchison playing in the front row forced his way over for a try which Tom Weaver converted. This was probably a fair reflection of play in this period, but before the break Weaver exchanged straight forward penalties with Winscombe centre Sam Dearsley. The score at the interval was 10-3 in Trowbridge’s favour.

As the second half started play was called back to the centre when Trowbridge were in front of the kick off. Winscombe made progress in the scrums and a long kick into the Trowbridge 22 resulted in line out. Following a drive in the line out, Winscombe centre Owen Howell crossed for a try and with the conversion from Dearsley the scores were level at 10-10.

The visitors were gaining supremacy in the scrums but Trowbridge were able to retain the ball in their scrums despite the pressure. From a scrum near the centre spot Trowbridge moved the ball to centre Ollie Shrubb who made a decisive break which broke the Winscombe defence and he scored in the corner. Tom Weaver made an excellent touchline conversion and the tide seemed to have turned. Within a couple of minutes Trowbridge were attacking again and young second row Sam Hales made a break from the half war line. He made a long diagonal run, beating several players and scored in the opposite corner. Weaver made another excellent conversion and the score was 24-10.
However the visitors were not finished and Trowbridge may have relaxed a little with the comfortable lead. Winscombe returned to the attack and they were rewarded when Dearsley scored a try to reduce the deficit to one score. This was short lived however as Trowbridge scrum half Archie Robertson increasingly released his backs. On one occasion Jack Pike appeared in the centre, made a good break and released the ball with a long pass to wing Lewis Jordan. the winger created an opening and ran in an excellent try in the corner to gain a bonus point for four tries. Tom Weaver kept his perfect record by converting. In the closing stages flanker Tom Broom went over for a try for Winscombe and Dearsley converted for the visitors to gain a losers bonus point.

This was a morale boosting win that will help Trowbridge’s cause but they will need to more consistent in player availability to remain competitive in the matches ahead.

Player of the Match: Sam Hales