Calne kicked off the new season with a win after a very close game that had everyone on the edge of their seats until the very last second. With Bradford on Avon just having come down from Southern Counties and thought to be one of the strongest teams in the league the home side were determined they were going to send a message to the rest of the league that this season Calne were going to be the team that will take some beating

The game started as expected, at 100mph with both sides making good ground but unable to convert pressure into points. Calne’s discipline was tested in the first 5 minutes as centre Guthrie Holiday was taken out by a nasty high tackle, Calne kept their cool and the Bradford player was sent to the sin bin. Part of Calne’s training has been to get the backs more involved in rucks and mauls and this paid off, after some good rucking from full back James Gladding and Scrum half Andy Donaghan winger John Hope-Smith broke the defence to score the first try which was converted by Donaghan. For some reason Calne then decided to go to sleep for the next 10 minutes and allowed Bradford in for 3 tries, 2 of which were converted.

Realising what Bradford’s backs were now capable of Calne’s forwards stepped up and tightened the game back up, dominating the scrums thanks to props Ian Smart and Mark Edwards and with Matt Arnolds pin point accuracy throwing in to Damon Murphy in the middle of the line, who, if he had leapt any higher would have come down with snow on his head. With all this extra pressure Calne were straight back in Bradfords half. After some more good rucking, No.8 Alan Wicks called a move with the fly half, this drew in 3 of the defending side, while being hit by the 3 defenders fly half Lewis Baker had an open way to the try line to score taking Calne in to half time 7 points down.

The second half started as the first ended with both teams giving 110% and it was only 3 minutes before the first score which came from Bradford after some good hands from the backs. Peter McGarry helped build towards the next score for Calne by spoiling opposition ball as he does every week allowing Daron Thomas to run straight through 4 tacklers like a vindaloo to score between the posts which was converted by Donaghan. Calne kept up the pressure and scored twice more, the first was a second try for fly half Lewis Baker after selling a perfect dummy and the second by Neil Young, well known for his interceptions and running the length of the pitch to score made the same interception but was an easy 1 yard from the try line, both tries were also converted. With good solid tackling by Neil Watkins and Michael Robinson and the end of the game approaching Calne were looking forward to the final whistle but Bradford faught until the 85th minute when their backs went on another run and managed to score a converted try.

The referee then called that the next time the ball went out after the re-start the game would be over, Calne kicked the ball out on the full and Bradford were awarded a free kick, knowing their strength, Bradford passed the ball straight out to the winger who got wrapped up by 3 Calne players and bundled over the touch line to secure Calne the win. Prop Mark Edwards was awarded the man of the match.

Calne 33 Bradford On Avon 31

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