Firstly may I take the opportunity to thank the ever increasing numbers of supporters who turned out on a Saturday afternoon to cheer us on, you couldn't wish for a more impressive start to a game of Rugby.

Good pressure was applied against the Bath outfit, keeping them deep in their own half resulting in a turnover ball. This gave outside-centre Alex Leigh the excuse he needed to involve himself in a driving maul and sniff out a hole in the defence to race 20 meters and score under the posts. Pete Richardson, who's lately had conversion duties, was unsuccessful on this occasion.

From the restart, the Cary play advanced up the field at will. The visiting side were shell-shocked by powerful runs from the ever improving Matt 'the Dozer' Hollifield and centre partner Alex Leigh, leaving the defence in their wake. Never far from the action, Russell Churchouse supported to pick up the next five pointer. With a successful conversion, Castle Cary led 12–0.

Over the remaining 25 minutes, Cary went into sleep mode as communication and organisation came to a standstill. Having little or no possession for the remainder of the first half, Cary's discipline dropped off and were on the receiving end of a 15-3 penalty count, resulting in a successful kick from just outside Castle Cary's 22-meter line. Centre Alex Leigh was yellow-carded for apparent offside play.

Taking advantage of being a player up, Bath used the numbers to their advantage out wide to score — bridging the gap on Cary's early lead. After the break, the visitors pushed ahead with another converted try before Cary were back to their full complement of players.

As play continued, Saracens were awarded another successful penalty within Cary's half, followed with their final points of the game in the form of an unconverted try. With the game looking lost, the momentum again turned — but in the favour of the local lads, with the penalty count being reversed to 15-3 against Bath in the second half.

With Club captain James Atkins last-minute exclusion through illness, fill-in skipper Tony Reynolds picked up from an attacking five-meter scrum to score close to the posts. With regular kicker Pete Richardson off the field, Alex Leigh stepped forward for the attempt only to narrowly miss the target.

Five minutes later, the home side was again pressuring the visitors' line with four consecutive penalties inside their 22-meter zone, leaving the referee no choice but to yellow-card their number eight. A quick tap and Reynolds was over for his second; a successful conversion brought the difference to one point.

The restart left only a couple of minutes to the final whistle and with another unforced error the game had ended with Cary wondering about lost League points.

Coach Jon Thomas was disappointed with the result but was happy with the positives within the game. He said, 'The first 20 minutes were good but we fell asleep. Our line-outs were very good, winning all but one of our own throws and a few of theirs. Our scrum was very strong and the backs are coming along each week with improving confidence and determination.' This week's players' player was Matt Hollifield with his strong running and support.

 
 
by James Travers