Sat. 14th Dec. Southern Counties Swindon RFC 12-7 Frome RFC
Frome RFC travelled to Swindon RFC on Saturday to face a team just below them in fourth place.
Frome started strongly despite the long journey and maintained pressure on the Swindon line, with Flanker Ross Toten and Hooker Ryan Lech carrying strongly. However Frome were unable to capitalise on the early pressure and long periods of possession.
Swindon managed to make a rare visit into Frome 22 and break, and created space for their Winger to score in the corner.
With their tails up, Swindon scored again shortly after when a missed tackle in midfield allowed the big second row to crash in under the posts, to secure a 12-0 half time advantage.
Frome rallied around half time and with a dominant Scrum, continued to put pressure on the home side, but with large periods of the play in the home side’s half, Frome struggled to turn possession into points.
Frome eventually scored a try when, after a penalty to the corner, they set up a catch and drive with replacement Stevan Randell dotting down for a try converted by Darrell Thompson. Despite continued pressure, Frome could not get a second score they desperately searched for.
Man of the Match, sponsored by The Old Bath Arms Frome, went to Flanker Ross Toten.
Head coach Toby Culff commented, “ Another tight and entirely avoidable loss to a top 4 rival was a massively disappointing way to end our 2019. 3 losses from our first 11 fixtures is not the start to this season we hoped for or expected. However, we are where we are and it’s not in our character to make excuses. We don’t deserve to be in top spot at the half way point, but the race is only half run. There’s plenty of time for us to bridge the slim deficit and put ourselves in a strong position for promotion.
“Despite the loss, we should reflect on the year as a whole as being a hugely positive one for Frome RFC. Both on and off the pitch, the club is in great health and is in a superb position to develop further in the years ahead. We should be enormously optimistic and excited about 2020. I can’t wait to get started again in January but, in the meantime, players and management all deserve a well-earned break. I’d like to send my sincere gratitude to our players, staff, members and volunteers, for their immense hard work and inspiring passion, and to wish everyone at Frome RFC a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year. Next year is going to be a brilliant one for Frome RFC, of that I’m absolutely certain.”
Despite the loss, Frome hold retained second spot as they go into the Christmas break and are back in league action on January 4th when they welcome Thatcham RFC to The Lane.
