Frome RFC

Report by Matt Warnock

On Saturday the Frome RFC headed into Wiltshire to face 11th place Swindon RFC. 

Looking to come back from he previous weeks narrow home loss, Frome looking for a positive win foe reading into the Christmas break.

The home side kicked off, and during the opening exchanges both sides looked to kick for field position. A penalty gave Swindon some early advantage, but some resilient defence stopped any would be attack.

A quick tap saw Fly Half, Simon Westlake find Winger Archie Coleman, who showed great agility to find his way into the opposition half. Frome would come away with a Scrum and with good field position looked to attack from just outside the opposition 22.

A blindside attack was thwarted, and the opposition regathered a loose carry but some dominant tackles from Scrum Half, Billy James and a turn over from Hayden Henley would soon give the visitors a penalty and territory.

A Frome line out would set the platform with some strong carries from Prop, Ollie Andrews and josh Hills. This set up quick ball with Scrum Half John Benstead and Simon Westlake linking well, Westlake firing a flat pass across the line for Centre, Sam Cassidy to dart through the defensive line unopposed under the sticks. Fullback Max Stickley adding the extras. (0-7)

A clean take from eh kick off saw Cassidy release Hills down the wing, who was able to get the offload away to James Howard who crashed through several tacklers.

Another penalty against the home side saw Stickley kick again to the corner. A great line out saw Captain, Alex Mallon secure the ball, before a quick offload the James Howard, which saw the second row glide through several tacklers to score. The conversion being added by Stickley (0-14)

With the kick off receive not going to plan Frome had to defend for a spell, but broke away with Winger Harrie Webster receiving pressure with a great sprint down the wing. 

A line out on the half way saw Frome move the ball well with Howard crashing up the middle, before Cassidy broke down the line with Coleman in pursuit, but the ball bounced out giving the home side a line out 5m from their line. 

The next few minutes saw some messy play from both sides, seeing multiple scrums.

Swindon were able to edge there way back into the Frome 22, but a great last ditch tackle by Stickley and pressure from he midfield a loose pass 10m out was gathered by Webster, who darted his way around the would be tackler and sprinted the length of the field to score under the posts. Stickley adding the extras. (0-21)

Swindon were able to apply pressure from the restart, and built multiple phases following a scrum in frames 22, and it wasn’t long until they found space and went over for their first points of the day. (7-21)

Frome were forced into an early substitution with Centre Cory Plumridge leaving the field due to a facial injury, which saw Darrell Thompson come into the midfield.

Another injury followed shortly with Webster leaving the field, Eliki Bainimoli dropping into the wing. 

A Penalty for touch saw Seb Smith take a great lineout throw and set up Alex Mason to charge at the line. Quick play by Billy James to Westlake saw the Fly Half pull a perfect pas back to Bainimoli who darted through the gap to score with his first touch of the game. Stickley adding the conversion. (7-28)

From the restart Frome looked to attack again, and some strong carries from Dan Chaventre saw quick ball wide to Coleman who was tackled high, awarding Frome with another penalty. 

Frome looked to have scored again with Cassidy and Coleman and Cassidy linking well, but some last ditch cover tackling saw the try go missing.

HT: Swindon 07 - 28 Frome

The second half couldn’t have started better, with Frome regathering the kick return the ball went through the hands, Cassidy linking well again with Coleman stepping the tackler and being the covering defenders to the line to dot down. Stickley adding the extras. (7-35)

The next ten or so minutes became a mixed affair with some great phases of play, but equally some poor execution. Luckily Frome were awarded a pearly, and after some back chat from Swindon gained another 10 before Stickley kicked for touch.

Swindon would get themselves back into some good field position with a scrum 10m out from Frome’s line, after several attacks, they found the gap and crossed over for an unconverted try. (12-35)

Frome restarted with some much needed aggression, and some barn storming runs from Mallon, Howard and Andrews saw Frome back into form. 

Swindon clearly frustrated started to see the penalty count rise against them. A Frome scrum just outside of the Swindon 22 set a great platform, a good carry into the midfield by Thompson saw quick play by James, who used the forwards to gain extra yards, before the ball went through the hands to see Bainimoli go over in the corner. The conversion going just wide. (12-40)

The half finished with Frome gunning for the line again, but some stern defence and some passes going missing the referee blew up for full time.

FT: Swindon 12 - 40 Frome

Player of the Match was awarded to Prop Ollie Andrews, sponsored by Ford Fuels. 

The Club would like to express its thanks and gratitude to the Swindon RFC President and Club members for their great hospitality towards our travelling supporters. Superb efforts from you all - thank you.

The Christmas break sees Frome in 6th place, and travel to Corsham on January 10th.