Sat 25 Oct 2025, 14:00
Marlborough RFC II 19 - 57 Frome RFC
Match Report by Matt Warnock
This weekend Frome RFC made the trip into Wiltshire to take on Marlborough RFC II in a rearranged fixture following a shortage of referees early in the month.
A cold and wet Common met the travelling Frome side, and following the kick off (playing up the significant slope) soon put themselves under unwanted pressure following a knock on in their own 22.
With multiple plays from the Homeside they eventually found the line and crashed over from close range for the first try of the day. The conversion being added. (7-0)
A great restart saw Frome regatta with Seb Smith leaping high, the ball then shipped wide before the referee brought it back for a Frome penalty. Full Back Fin Van Gorph kicking for touch.
Frome would win another penalty shortly after with a great catch and drive from the Forwards. The next few phases saw the visitors get close to the line, but were penalised themselves and Marlborough cleared their lines.
Fly Half Westlake would go on a run following a quick tap and go, with he defence not retreating Frome took advantage once again.
Seeing the space wide, Frome moved the ball well with Westlake finding Josh Hills before he tipped onto Sam Cassidy who sprinted through the defence only to be held up on the line.
A Frome Scrum just outside of their own 22 was easily secured, with No.8 Alex Mallon picking and running hard, before the ball was played out the to the backline and Centre John Benstead shipped the ball onto Winger Harrie Webster who found Van Gorph and Winger Rob Sully in full flight.
Marlborough found themselves under pressure following a messy line out of their own, when Mallon tackled the Scrum Half before jackling well on the ball to gain a penalty.
The resulting line out was secured well by Captain Geoff Taylor, seeing Cassidy and White making some great yards.
Frome were dealt a blow when Full Back Van Gorph had to leave the field following an injury to the ribs. A reshuffle int he backline line seeing Sully move to Full back and Nick Powell come onto the Wing.
A Scrum just inside of the Marlborough half saw the Frome pack lay a great foundation to play from, a move straight from eh training paddock saw Benstead offload to Cassidy who sprinted through the gap to beat the covering defenders and dive over for Frome’s first points of the day. Cassidy adding the extras. (7-7)
Another injury blow was dealt to Frome when Captain Geoff Taylor had to leave the field following a knee injury. Ollie Andrews coming off the bench to join Dan Chaventre and Alastair Turpin in the Front Row.
The homeside were next on the scoreboard following a cross field kick that bounced awkwardly and Marlborough gathered to dot down. The conversion being added. (14-7)
A Scrum inside their own 22 was secured and Scrum Half Billy James found Centre Benstead before being high tackled and Frome cleared their lines. Frome were beginning to build plenty of momentum but the pass not quite going to hand int he final pass.
Marlborough had a line out and looked to have broken free wide, but a great covering tackle from Webster so he’s opposite man go into touch. Murray White and Joe Cagilaba worked well with Ollie Andrew making hard earned yards.
Frome looked to have been in over in the corner when great hands from Westlake, Benstead and Cassidy found Webster out wide who jinked his way through several would be tackler before a clearly high tackle halted the attack.
Marlborough would then concede multiple penalties in their own 22, eventually being shown a yellow card. Cassidy stepping up and slotting it between the uprights for an additional 3 points. (14-10)
HT: Marlborough RFC II 14 - 10 Frome RFC
Frome kicked off the second half with the slope and wind now with them, great pressure from the restart saw the homeside clear their lines, only to find Sully who zigzagged his way through the defenders before offloading to Webster who picked the ball down field.
Some superb defending from the Frome Pack and backline saw a break wide for Webster who was brought down in the opposition 22. Joe Cagilaba was inches away from scoring before being brought down just shy of the line, the next phase saw Prop Dan Chaventre spot the gap, and with quick reactions picked and sniped from the base of the ruck to dive over to score. Cassidy adding the extras (14-17)
Frome had to defend for the next few minutes with some superb hits coming in from Cassidy, White and Powell.
A Scrum on the half way would see Frome look to break wide, but a handling error saw a knock on.. the following Scrum Frome showed their dominance over the opposition pack and drove them backwards winning a penalty and regaining possession… much to the cheers and delights of the travelling Frome Faithful supporting on the sidelines.
The following line out saw Alex Mallon secure and break away, bouncing off several would be tacklers. A Scrum just 5m out, saw Frome No. 8 Mallon charge forward before offloading to Cassidy who was stopped short by the post.. Billy James reacting quickly moved the ball wide to see Ollie Andrews dive over the line for a try. Cassidy adding the extras. (14-24)
Frome went wide again on the next play with the ball going into touch, Marlborough line out, under pressure saw Joe Cagilaba put in a huge tackle in front of their posts. The clearance kick found covering scrum half, Billy James who challenged the line before finding Winger Webster. With plenty of work to do, Webster weaved his way past several would be tacklers handing off the last to dive over for a try. Cassidy adding the kick. (14-31)
Marlborough continued to look threatening when they had ball in hand, but some great pressure from Frome saw a loose ball kicked through by Benstead, which wasn’t gathered by the Fullback and saw another kick through, this time by Cassidy who collected and offloaded under pressure just short of the try line but the ball going to ground.
Frome would then take the foot off the gas, allowing Marlborough to make some good breaks, resulting in a strong carry up the middle. But a dominant tackle by Sully saw quick turnover ball, with Murray White charging his way into the opposition half, before offloading to Westlake who weaved his way through before passing to Mallon who walked over to score. Cassidy adding the kick. (14-38)
The visitors would work their way into the Marlborough shortly after the restart with another strong carry by White, the forwards would then take charge close to the line, with Turpin, Andrews and Mallon all showing great strength. It was Alex Mallon who would go over for the next points showing some superb strength to dive over from close range. Cassidy missing the kick. (14-43)
It was the homeside who would be next on the scorecard following a good move wide. The conversion attempt going wide. (19-43)
Frome put pressure on the restart and following a clearance kick, James Howard caught the ball and made plenty of metres before offloading to Powell who made it into the opposition 22.
Following the Marlborough line out some great pressure in the defence saw a loose ball collected by Murray White who darted over the line for a well deserved try. Cassidy adding the extras. (19-50)
A scrum on the half way would see the ball move wide by Westlake to Webster, who found Cassidy at full speed, who then darted through past the covering defence to score under the posts. Adding the conversion himself for the extras. (19-57)
With the final minutes of the game Frome looked to attack from deep and worked their way wide but with the clock on 80 Frome kicked for the line seeing out the game with a win.
FT: Marlborough RFC II 19 - 57 Frome RFC
Player of the Match Award was jointly given to Centre, Sam Cassidy, Flanker Murray White and No.8 Alex Mallon.
Head Coach Garrie Webster commented “ I’m very happy with the performance, working hard against the conditions in the first half and their big heavy runners, but I do think we were unlucky to be going into halftime behind. The second half saw us play with a. Mix of patience and pace, which proved to be the difference.”
Director of Rugby, Richard Maunder followed with “We are very happy with the result today, a great win on the road at a tough place to visit. Brilliant team performance.”
