NOMADS CONTINUE WINNING RUN WITH 29-14 DEFEAT OF MIDSOMER NORTON

On a high after last week’s demolition of Melksham 81-0, the Nomads were eagerly awaiting this week’s encounter with Midsomer Norton (the Optimists), particularly as the match would be played alongside the 1st XV’s semi-final game against Alchester and just before England’s 6 Nations opener against Wales on the TV in the Clubhouse.  Before this game, the Nomads were lying 5th in the table, with Midsomer Norton a place above – all to play for then!  It was a cold, grey and uninviting day on the Common and, yes, you guessed it – there were only 15 Nomads players available for combat!

Playing at home meant that the warm up was conducted in much better style than last week’s and there was even the opportunity to run through a few moves!  In fact, it was the opposition’s turn to arrive with only half an hour to go and so there was a welcome air of expectation amongst the Nomads squad as the teams lined up for kick-off.  From the off it was clear that the Nomads were keen to assert themselves on the game, direct the pace of play and keep the Optimists on the back foot.  The difference in size and weight of the two packs was all in Midsomer’s favour and yet the Nomads forwards scrummaged superbly, allowing scrum-half Kevin Dobie to get good ball to his backs.  The result of creating a good, stable platform was immediately apparent and the back line combination of Adam Dobie at fly-half, Paul Carver at inside centre and Tom Johnson at outside centre (all ably supported by wingers Graham Yates and Chris Paley and full-back Chris Claydon) was soon punching big holes in the Midsomer defence.

Adam Dobie scored after just 10 minutes and then again on 19 minutes; Tom Regan (back on kicking duty) converted both tries.  Midsomer’s response was to make things difficult for Marlborough and the game developed a scrappy side.  As a result, both sides were penalised, particularly for failing to release the player and/or the ball at the breakdown.  Midsomer capitalised on this period of poorer play by scoring two penalty goals, but a third try for the Nomads – scored by prop Mathew Dopson (his eleventh this season!) from some excellent forwards and backs teamwork – and a penalty goal struck smartly by Tom Regan saw the Nomads leading the Optimists by a comfortable 16 points at the half-time whistle.

The second half saw the game slow even further as neither side seemed to be able to move the ball wide.  Midsomer made some substitutions and scored a third penalty goal – there are clearly some lessons to be learned before the next match!  Although Midsomer never looked like closing the gap, the third period was hard work for the fifteen-man Nomads squad.  Midsomer put together a series of forwards moves that pushed the Nomads back and the almost inevitable result of such pressure was a try for the Optimists’ replacement hooker – who had spent ten minutes in the ‘sin bin’ earlier in the game for fighting!  It is a shame that, unlike England, the Nomads couldn’t put 17-odd points on a Midsomer side down to 14 men!

Capitalising on yet another penalty awarded for more foul play, Nomads hooker Adam Whatley ran in an excellent try against a dozing and argumentative Midsomer side.  Tom Regan duly converted and the result was beyond doubt.  After working hard to beat Trowbridge and Devizes and then destroying Melksham, this was the fourth high-quality win in a row.  More importantly, it takes the Nomads to second place in the Dorset & Wiltshire (North) 3 league and bumps the total of points scored to a tantalising 499!  The Nomads are at home to Swindon on Saturday 13 February and, as last week, the Clubhouse will be open for refreshments and the 6 Nations games will be shown on the television.  You are all more than welcome on the Common!