The Frome RFC 2nd XV travelled away to local rivals Warminster RFC on Saturday, looking to get back to winning ways after last weeks loss to Trowbridge.

The first ten minutes saw both sides working hard to implement their game plans, with both sides gaining various degrees of success.

Frome were getting on the front foot with their off loads and hard running lines. Then on 15 mins, Full Back Rob Sully made a break to set up a good platform in Warminster's 22, a good carry from Hooker Matt King, enabled Harry Burge to go wide with Prop Phil Clarke popping up in the back line who passed the ball out to Winger John Spencer, who touched down for his 4th try of the season. Unfortunately the kick narrowly missed.

Warminster got the upper hand which would set the trend of the match. Going up the pitch and gaining a penalty on the ten metre line, which they kicked for the corner. From the resulting line out they caught and drove, Frome held on for two more phases but Warminster found their prop who crashed over taking two off Frome's players with him.

Frome unfortunately lost Flanker Harry Bridle to injury, who was replaced by Gordon Grieson.

Frome then went back on the offensive and camped in Warminster's half, but as much as the visitors knocked on the Warminster line the Home defence held firm until the half time whistle.

HT: Warminster RFC 5 - 5 Frome RFC II

Frome started the 2nd half well and started putting their phases together with some good carries by Forwards, Joe Hayes and Mark Regler.

On 52mins Frome won a scrum against the head, and No.8 Rob James went blind, and with some good hands from Centre Cory Plumridge and Leone Naucuikidi, put Full Back Sully in for the score. Plumridge adding the extras.

Warminster then came out on the attack again, but the visitors worked well with some great defence on Frome's line and some last ditch tackles from Centre Naucuikidi.

On 59 mins with the pressure mounting up, Winger Spencer was caught making a tackle whilst offside in the Frome 22, which awarded him a yellow card.

Warminster capitalised on this and went wide touching down in the corner.

Scrum Half Harry Burge made way for the veteran Scrum Half Garrie Webster.

Again Frome went on the attack straight from the kick off, and were awarded a penalty, Captain David Abrahams turned down a kick at the posts and went from the corner. From the line out Scrum Half Webster showed all his experience guiding his forwards towards the line, with Prop Clarke touching down and scoring his tenth try of the season. The kick was missed.

This topsy turvy game continued and Warminster got phases together and started to get their backs going. On 70 mins the Warminster backline went wide noticing there was a miss match in numbers and despite the best efforts of Flanker Matt Smith Warminster winger touched down.

Frome then went on the attack and were awarded a scrum just outside the Warminster 22, from the scrum the ball came out to the backline and a long pass from Plumridge just fell short but bounced up nice for Full Back Sully who managed to run in for his 2nd try and his 5th for the season. The kick was missed.

From the kick off there was another twist with Flanker Smith receiving the ball and running through a gap in the defence, with only the opposition Full Back to beat, Smith was tackled just on the 22. Frome were then awarded a penalty which was tapped and kicked into touch to end the game.

FT: Warminster RFC 15 - 22 Frome RFC II

Player of the Match went to Joe Hayes who ran all day with some impressive carries and was huge in defence.

With other results going their way, the Frome RFC 2nd sit top of Dorset & Wilts 1 North, but with Trowbridge and Warminster still with games in hand, this Saturday's home fixture against Calne RFC is another important fixture.

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Unfortunately due to a number of Covid cases within the Trowbridge camp, Saturday's South West 1 East game between Frome RFC and Trowbridge RFC was postponed with a provisional rearranged date of Saturday 26th February. The club would like to wish those effected a healthy and speedy recovery.