Calne travelled to Bradford on Saturday for a game that was always going to be close, due to both sides playing the same style of fast rugby.

With Calne and Bradford sat in 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, in Dorset and Wilts One North and with just two points separating them, it was difficult to predict a winner but with Bradford having the home advantage, and also hosting their Vice Presidents, you could have said that the odds were stacked slightly in the home team’s favour

With Calne playing the first half against the strong wind and driving rain, it looked like they would have to limit the damage up to half time, after they let Bradford run in for an early try. A well-executed back line move form Bradford was converted, for the early lead. In trademark style, this woke Calne up and set up an entertaining first half. With Dave Holmes returning to the first team front row, and playing probably, his best game yet, alongside Matt Arnold and Max Whiston. Calne were able to gain domination of the scrummage immediately. The pack turned over the first scrum against the head, allowing flyhalf, Lewis Baker, to release the backs on the first of many attacks. Allowing the ball out work its way out to Seth Shardlow and Mike Robinson, who both had good games attacking and defending on their wings.

Calne worked their way down field with some fast, quick phases from the likes of Neil Watkins and Rich Kearney, this got Calne to the Bradford 5 metre line. Then came Calne’s first try, Bradford put into the scrum, but the shear power of the Calne scrum pushed them backwards and the stolen ball was stopped at the back by No8 Alan Wicks. Wicks took control for a while before picking up and powering his way through the flanker, like a hot knife through butter, to cross the line. Unfortunately, Andrew Donegan missed the difficult conversion.

Calne kept up the pressure throughout the remainder of the half and were again rewarded when openside flanker Damon Murphy took the ball from the back of a maul, sold a lovely dummy and beat all remaining defenders in the 40 metre foot race to the try line, taking Calne into half time 10-7 up.

Now that the wind and rain had died down Calne didn’t have as much advantage as expected, but even if they had the second half still wouldn’t have given as much entertainment as the first. The half started messy and continued for 40 minutes. Not taking any praise away from Bradford, who carried on running the ball at Calne with some good lines and penetrating runs. A lot of which were stopped by the awesome tackling of centre and man of the match James Gladding. Aided by some long clearance kicks from fullback, Stuart Boswell, who gave a solid performance whilst celebrating his 37th birthday.

Calne felt that they were playing against 16 men most of the second half, as it ended up with Bradford being awarded a penalty at just about every breakdown. Eventually they converted one, bringing the scores equal at 10 a piece. Calne then really dug in and were determined that they were going to win, they defended another attack, turned the ball over again and the ball fell into the hands of who everyone in a blue shirt would have chosen. Guthrie Holiday, once in his stride was never going to be caught and he scored between the posts, Donegan converted to secure the win.

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