Calne Win On The Road

Calne made a jubilant return to the Rec on Saturday following a resounding 27-12 victory over Swindon College Old Boys (AWAY).

With temperatures beginning to drop and Calne’s sights set on ensuring a winning streak into the new year, the game began with significant pressure on SCOB thanks to our formidable pack. Once again, our scrums and mauls announced our dominance from the outset, and a lightning-quick pick-and-go by No. 2 Dave Evans awarded us with the first try of the match.

Despite a missed conversion, Blair Collins-Thomas promptly made amends with a brilliant breakthrough try. A precise second conversion extended the score to 12-0. SCOB put up a spirited fight, but Calne remained resolute. A masterful forward manoeuvre, assisted by Captain Pete Brownlie, allowed No. 7 Harry Humphries to breach SCOB's defence for another try, elevating the score to 17-0. Collins-Thomas further extended our lead with a penalty kick, bringing the tally to 20-0 just before halftime.

In the second half, Calne came out swinging, with No. 8 Mark McAlonan exploding out of the scrum to score a try. It wasn’t Mark’s only win of the day; he also snagged a yellow card, a feat typically associated with his older brother, Chris. (It's a remarkable day when Chris manages to stay out of the ref's bad books, especially in a game where a total of five yellow cards were handed out!) Collins-Thomas once again slotted in the conversion, granting us a commanding 27-0 lead.

However, that would be our final uncontested lead of the match, with SCOB regaining their footing and putting up a tenacious resistance. They scored two tries, including one successful conversion, narrowing the score to 27-12. Despite their determination, the final whistle confirmed Calne's victory. Calne favourite Harry Humphries rightfully earned the title of man of the match, displaying exceptional skill.

Coach Richard Kearney likened the performance to a car with a dodgy clutch, with the team struggling to shift into higher gears. However, with four tries secured, granting us the coveted RFU bonus point, this first victory of the season bodes well for Calne ahead of the rest of the season. We extend our thanks to Swindon College Old Boys for hosting us and eagerly anticipate meeting Supermarine at our home ground on Saturday, November 11th, which will also mark the first VPs day of the season.