2ND XV MATCH REPORT | DEVIZES 19–36 BRADFORD-ON-AVON

A Bridge Too Far

With Corsham II unable to raise a side and Bradford-on-Avon also left without a fixture after Fairford cancelled, a last-minute friendly was arranged at the Chivers' Ground. Two teams without a game, 30-odd blokes desperate for a runaround and the prospect of a few beers afterwards. Everyone's a winner. Well, apart from Devizes on the scoreboard.

With Bradford-on-Avon playing their rugby a league above, it promised to be a stern test for the Devizes 2nd XV, and that's exactly what it proved to be.

The visitors wasted little time getting into their stride, opening the scoring after just a few minutes with some slick handling, excellent support lines and sharp wing play to take a 7–0 lead.

Devizes, however, weren't there simply to make up the numbers. Strong carries from Walt Sheppard and Henry Giddings got the home side moving forward, while brothers Guy and Ed Jenkins provided plenty of go-forward in the backs.

Strong carrying from Walt

That pressure eventually told, with Henry Giddings crashing over from close range and Morgan Wellard adding the extras to level things at 7–7.

Devizes thought they'd added another when Mark Gresswell crossed the whitewash, only for the referee to rule the effort out. Gresswell's celebrations were short-lived, and the scoreboard remained unchanged.

The remainder of the half was a competitive affair, with both sides enjoying spells of possession, but it was Bradford who struck just before the interval with another well-worked score to take a 14–7 advantage into the break.

The match was physical throughout, with Henry Giddings at the centre of it

The second half saw Devizes really grow into the contest. Despite Bradford looking dangerous whenever they had ball in hand, the home side enjoyed the better of the territory and possession, putting together some excellent passages of rugby.

The visitors also developed something of a fondness for the referee's pocket, with multiple yellow cards giving Bradford's replacements an opportunity to sample the hospitality of the touchline.

Devizes made their pressure count when some excellent phase play and powerful carrying created the opening for fly-half Morgan Wellard to cross for the home side's second try. Wellard converted his own score to bring the sides level at 14–14. Game on.

Wellard crosses the whitewash

Bradford responded with a try against the run of play to regain the lead at 21–14, before adding another score to put some daylight between the sides.

But Devizes weren't finished.

A lovely attacking passage saw Guy Jenkins cut a superb line against the grain, slicing through the Bradford defence to cross for Devizes' third try. At 26–19, the home side were right back in the contest and looking capable of causing an upset.

Unfortunately, the visitors' extra experience and clinical finishing eventually told, with two late scores putting the game beyond Devizes and securing a 36–19 victory for Bradford-on-Avon.

The final scoreline was perhaps a little harsh on a Devizes side who enjoyed plenty of possession, territory and opportunities against opposition from the league above. There was no shortage of effort, physicality or commitment, and plenty of positives for the lads to take into the coming weeks.

A massive thank you to Bradford-on-Avon for making the trip over at the eleventh hour and ensuring both sides got some valuable rugby under their belts. A proper competitive friendly played in good spirits, even if the referee's cards got a decent workout.

Three tries, plenty of graft and a few sore bodies on Sunday. Not a bad afternoon's work for a game that didn't exist 48 hours earlier.

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