Calne’s newly reformed second team tested their hand against one of the countries newest teams, Sutton Benger. The seconds wanted to test themselves against Benger, who are in the newly created Dorset and Wilts division III.

With the first team away, in league action, against Swindon II’s, an unfamiliar side put on Calne colours. The early encounters were dominated by Benger, who played out a number of training park moves against what they expected to be a push over of an opposition. The home team duly struggled against the better organised force to start with and inevitably leaked two early tries.

Scrum half Steve pegged Benger back with two penalties, but the travelling team still looked strong and in control. As the first half progressed, so did the home team. Calne’s backline started to click and their pace soon started to frighten Benger. Mike Smith, playing his first ever game at fly half, was instrumental in the ever improving performance and centre Jeff Price, reeked havoc on is opposite number. Despite these and many more excellent performances, Calne could not cross Benger’s whitewash.

Benger then finished the 2nd half with another try, effectively sealing the game. The second half kicked off with a more determined Calne side, focused on one sole objective, to score the elusive try.

Try as they might, Benger held out and managed to repel the home side’s efforts and force Calne in to taking two more penalties, which were duly converted by Jacket. As the game ebbed away, so did Calne’s chances of scoring. Benger had got to grips with Prices’ runs and Smith’s distribution and shepherded Calne away from their lines. It looked like I was going to take something special to unlock the Benger defence.

With 5 minutes to go, an injury meant the services of Matt Snell were required on the left wing. Snell wasted no time to become involved and wandered off his wing to support Price on one of his weaving runs, down the right wing. Price was halted and Snell scooped up the loose ball, chipped the flat defence, chased the weighted kick and just as it looked like the full back had stopped the attack, Snell flattened him with a monstrous tackle Causing him to spill the ball into the loose, Calne’s own full back, Alan Henley, was in support and fly hacked loose ball forward beating his opposite number in the chase to the line for the much deserved score.

Final Score. Calne II 17 Sutton Benger 20

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