Calne kept the pressure up on league leaders Supermarine with a clinical 41-5 home win over Swindon II’s. The win makes up for a 5-0 lose in the earlier corresponding fixture and, along with Supermarine’s good win, sets up one of the most important games of the season, when the two face off on the 18th of February, at Supermarine.

The Anchor Road outfit had to re-shuffle its much vaunted backline, due to an injury to South African superstar and top try scorer, Guthrie Holliday. Winger/fullback James Gladding moved in to the outside centre role and promising young 2nd team winger, Seth Shardlow came into the left wing spot.

Calne’s pack, lead by Neil Watkins, edged the early exchanges and supplied a steady stream of good quick ball to Donegan’s backs. The seventeen year old Shardlow opened the scoring, by ripping past his man with his deceptive turn of pace. Openside Murphy, followed up capitalising of a lovely supporting line of running.

Shardlow then beat his man, the covering flanker and the fullback for his 2nd try. Swindon then struck back by exploiting a rare gap in Calne’s defence with an unconverted try near the touchline. Lock Daron Thomas completed the first half scoring, with a typically straight and destructive run.

The second half started as it was to finish, with the back line ruthlessly finishing off work started by the efforts and determination of their pack. Donegan exploited a gap created off a ruck thanks to a number of drives by the front and 2nd row. He jinked and weaved his way to the try line. After a short lived period of pressure, possession and territory from Swindon, Donegan collected his 2nd in similar fashion ending all hopes of a Swindon revival.

A man of the match performance from winger Mike McCaffery was capped with a superb individual try. After shrugging off his opposite winger with ease, he then stepped around the full back before carrying over the covering centre and fullback to the line. McCaffery out stretched arm was just long enough to reach the line.

Final Score. Calne 41 Swindon II 5

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