Saturday 26th February Frome RFC 24 Trowbridge RFC 12
FROME RFC welcomed Wiltshire side, Trowbridge RFC, to The Lane on Saturday in a rearranged fixture, following Covid cases in the Trowbridge camp earlier in the year.
The home side were looking to carry on the form that had seen them put in some fantastic performances against the teams at the top of the league in recent weeks.
Frome kicked off the first half and were soon met with some strong carries and runs from the visitors.
They were several scrums in the opening minutes, with the home side showing solid set piece. Frome’s attack was gaining yards, but the visitors’ defence held firm and a knock saw the forwards set for another scrum.
Trowbridge would have some good attacking sets, getting into the Frome 22, following a lineout they shipped the ball wide to the Winger who looked certain to score, only to be halted 5m out with a superb tackle from JJ Gagiano, who was able to turn the ball over.
10 minutes in, Trowbridge looked to move the ball wide again but with a tackle from Winger Ed Darwent, forced the pass and the ball went into touch.
A penalty in the home 22 would see the Trowbridge No. 12 have a kick at the posts, which he pushed wide. James Howard left the field injured, with Leone Naucukidi coming onto the Wing.
A string of penalties saw Frome edge their way into Trowbridge’s 22, a line break from Gagiano saw Fly Half Jones, put a pass to Full Back Darrell Thompson who was tackled without the ball, seeing Thompson slot the subsequent penalty in front of the sticks on 20 minutes.
Frome’s lineout continued to work well, setting a superb platform for the backline, but the visitors did well to slow things up in defence and force a scrum.
A break from Ali Frost down the wing saw him dragged into touch, but the following kick to touch didn’t quite make it and Trowbridge cleared their lines.
Howard would return to the field with Stevan Randall making way.
The Frome Forwards would then show their Scrum dominance, and win one against the head, setting up a break for Fly Half Jones, who slipped the tackle to offload to Flanker Matt Smith, who ran in under the posts. Thompson adding the extras.
A quick tap penalty from the Trowbridge Scrum Half saw the visitors break into Frome 22, but a superb tackle by Mallon saw Trowbridge penalised for holding on, the visiting Scrum Half unhappy with the decision, the referee marched them back twice, before issuing a yellow card.
Trowbridge defended well to gain a penalty and clear their lines, following several scrums in the midfield Trowbridge worked well into the Frome 22, before their Centre broke through 5 metres out. The kick being added and the half time whistle blown. (10-7)
With Trowbridge kicking off, Frome looked to work their way back down field. The visitors’ defence held firm, and with a clearance kick being regathered, Trowbridge found their way back to Frome’s 22.
Moving the ball wide stretched Frome’s defence, but the visitors were penalised at the breakdown and Frome cleared their lines.
A lineout in the halfway saw the home team side build momentum with Centre Mike Rutt crashing into the defensive line, with quick ball the backline was able to gain yards, before Trowbridge were penalised for not releasing and Frost kicked to the corner.
Frome dominating the Scrums, we’re able to force Trowbridge back, but quick ball to the Winger saw them find their way out of danger.
Another Frome Penalty saw a kick to the corner, 5m out. The lineout, working well all day saw Frome go close again, a scrum under the posts was controlled well by the pack, and Captain, Alex Mallon being stopped just short by a solid defence.
Some great forwards play saw John Benstead held up over the line, and following another scrum, the forwards dominating, No.8 Mallon was able to dive over for the try. Thompson adding the conversion.
Trowbridge continued to threaten whenever they had ball in hand, and soon capitalised on space when they scored, the conversion being missed.
A battle in the midfield between both sides would see out a large portion of the remainder of the game.
Frome were able to find their way with a lineout, just shy of the half line.
Continuing to dominate the lineouts, a well-worked play, straight from the training field, saw Gagiano break down the wing to fixing the defender to feed Howard who galloped on, holding the last defender to release John Benstead who out-sprinted the covering defence to score in the corner, with the home crowd erupting with cheers.
The replacement Trowbridge Fly Half was then issued a yellow which would see him not return to the field for the remainder of the game.
Player of the Match was shared between Prop Jason Barraclough and Flanker Matt Smith for their outstanding performances.
• This weekend sees Frome RFC hit the road as they head to Buckingham RFC, whilst the 2nd & 3rd XV are back in League action when the 2nd XV heading to Melksham RFC and the 3rd XV host Midsomer Norton RFC 3rd XV.
