Frome welcomed Corsham to Gypsy Lane, hoping to continue their winning run and maintain their position in the league.
The home side started strongly and were unlucky not to score when the ball was held up over the line. However they got on the score sheet when No.8 Alex Mallon turned the ball over at the breakdown and galloped 40 metres to score, unfortunately the conversion just falling short.
Frome continued to control proceedings but Corsham got back into the game just before half time when after a number of passages of play, they found the Winger free out wide to score an equalising try, the angle too difficult for the kicker and the teams turned around all square at half time, 5 points apiece.
Half Time: Frome RFC 1st 5 – 5 Corsham RFC 1st
Frome took the game by the scruff of the neck at the beginning of the second half and were dominating all aspects of the game. The home side were rewarded when from a 5 metre scrum joint Man of the Match Mallon drove over for his second try, converted by Fullback Daniel Arbury.
Frome continued to build pressure with Inside Centre (and joint Man of the Match) Alistair Frost punching holes in the visitors’ defence. The home side were on the scorecard once again when Arbury increased Frome’s lead with a penalty after the visitors had offended at the breakdown.
However the visitors never let up and always looked to threaten and got on the score board with a penalty after a rare visit to Frome’s 22. The home side completed the scoring when Mallon completed his hat trick from the base of another 5 metre scrum. Cheered on by the home support, there were opportunities for the lead to be extended, but the dogged Corsham defence managed to hold up multiple attempts on the try line.
Final Score: Frome RFC 1st 20 – 8 Corsham RFC 1st
Head coach Toby Culff said, “We knew Corsham would be a tough challenge and it was therefore no surprise to encounter a physical team with a solid set piece, a well-organised defence, and a tenacious competitiveness at the breakdown.
“Though we enjoyed the lion’s share of first half territory and possession, we were unable to convert this dominance into clear points-scoring opportunities. We perhaps lacked the necessary physicality and tempo to really stretch the Corsham defence. In the second half, however, we found these missing ingredients and we were able to gradually build an advantage.
“In the end, we were disappointed not to secure a fifth consecutive four-try bonus point, but the victory was reward enough after an extremely bruising and intense 80 minutes. Our joint men of the match – Ali Frost and Alex Mallon – led from the front and exemplified the Frome spirit with their fearless carrying and tireless workrate, but they weren’t alone; the whole 18-man squad played courageously and determinedly. The win was again made even sweeter by the news of another emphatic victory for our 2nd XV and we’re looking forward to another difficult test next weekend at Devizes.”
The Frome RFC 1st XV now sit 2nd in the Wadworth 6X Southern Counties South league.
Above: Hooker Will Button carries.
Below: Daniel Arbury and Luc Thomas.
Photos by Mark and Morgan Sangster.
