RUGBY UNION: Witney hit back for vital win (From Oxford Mail)

RUGBY UNION: Witney hit back for vital win

10:30am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Rugby

South West 1 East

WITNEY battled back from 10-0 down to win 19-10 at basement boys Swanage & Wareham and keep clear of the relegation zone.

Swanage started strongly, but ran out of steam in the second half as Witney ended a run of three defeats.

Witney were immediately in trouble when fly half Henry Lamb’s kick-off failed to go ten metres.

The visitors were 7-0 down inside three minutes thanks to a try from Charlie Parish, which he converted himself.

Swanage were out muscling Witney, who took 18 minutes to get into the home 22 via full back James Monks.

The visitors’ woes continued with scrum half Gareth Campbell sin-binned for illegal use of the boot at a ruck.

Only a great covering tackle from Lewis Collins prevented a second Swanage try.

The hosts were also twice held up over their own line, but added a penalty from centre Rory Triniman after the break.

Witney slowly turned the tide and finally got on the scoresheet after 57 minutes.

Some great work by the backs led to centre Rich Stratford going over, with Henry Lamb converting.

Gareth Campbell made up for his earlier yellow card by scrambling over after a lineout move to put Witney 12-10 ahead on 68 minutes.

Witney’s new supremacy was confirmed three minutes later when Monks made good ground to set centre Matt Clarke up for try No 3, Henry Lamb converting.