Late Witney tries sink Trowbridge

Trowbridge made a late change when Dave Martin moved to the front row in place of Sean Jones with Roy Hewitt coming on to the bench. Trowbridge started brightly but after creating an overlap on the right in the 4th minute, and with the Witney defence on the other side of the field, centre Dave Finlay lost the ball, and Witney found themselves in possession. Their influential fly half George Lewis, with several backs outside him, and only Trowbridge full back to beat, ran half the length of the field to score the opening try. He was able to convert. The visitors continued to threaten, but handling errors and a spirited defence from Trowbridge kept them out. Trowbridge came back into the game but the blustery conditions and handling errors, resulting from both sides being close to the offside lines affected the flow of the game. This also resulted in a number of penalties, especially against the visitors. After 25 minutes referee Mark Lenton Jinks' patient was stretched when visitors prop James Burke was sent to the bin for collapsing a scrum. Trowbridge attacked and a penalty attempt from fly half Ollie Weaver was missed, but after 33 minutes a line out in the corner after a long Weaver penalty was taken by second row Mark Durant, who was driven over the line for a try which Weaver converted. A long range penalty was missed by Lewis for Witney, but Trowbridge returned to the attack with a break from Weaver and the ball was passed to Matt Howard, and then Dave Martin. He was held short of the line, but the Doric Park side could not score during several scrums on the Witney line. The Oxfordshire side held out until the referee blew for half time with home side leading 7-5

The second half started with both sides seeking to gain the upper hand. Witney had a solid scrum and line out, but they continued to make errors. The deadlock was broken just into the last quarter when a Witney breakaway by George Lewis went over for a try which he converted. Witney's increased their grip on the game. A penalty was missed but three more tries from Lewis, wing Lewis Collins and second row Dave Hyde. All three tries were converted and Witney had gained a bonus point. The final score was 7-33.

This result has put Trowbridge in a fight for the third relegation place. Swanage & Wareham and Reading appear to be be detached at the bottom, but Trowbridge are looking over their shoulder to High Wycombe and Grove who are both within a point. Reading drew at Swindon though the home time gained a bonus point, scoring 4 tries, but all of the others gained losing bonus points.

With the 6 nations resuming next Saturday, Trowbridge's next match is at Reading on 19th March. On 2nd April, the club are having a Former Players and Vice Presidents Lunch before the home match with Oxford Harlequins. For tickets please enquire at the bar.