Calne's title hopes dented

3:17pm Thursday 15th March 2007

CALNE'S dreams of lifting the Dorset and Wilts One North crown suffered a setback on Saturday when they were held to a draw by Swindon at Greenbridge Road.

This match had to be rearranged three times because of the wet weather, but for both sets of supporters it was well worth the wait.

Home side Swindon surged into a 17-0 lead early in the first half as their huge pack stamped their authority on the match.

Calne were then reduced to 14 men when Trevor Wicks was sent-off for retaliation, leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb.

But a breakaway try from outside centre Andy Bowers on the stroke of half-time gave Calne hope of a comeback.

Fly-half Neil Young made an incisive run from deep inside his own half before offloading for Bowers to score beneath the posts. Mike Robinson made no mistake with the conversion.

Robinson kicked a penalty early in the second half to reduce the deficit to 10-17, as Calne began to put pressure on their hosts.

Skipper Alan Wicks brought the visitors to within two points when he stole the ball from a Swindon line-out and powered over the line.

Richard Kearney came off the bench for Calne and the player-coach made an immediate impact when he scored an individual try from just inside the Swindon 22.

The home side were rattled, but an unconverted try tied the game at 22-22 with 10 minutes to play.

Alan Milton put the visitors back in front when he dived over in the corner, but Swindon answered late on with an unconverted try of their own to salvage a point.

Calne skipper Wicks said he was disappointed not to come away with the win after his side's terrific second half fight-back.

Wicks said: "Swindon dominated us in the first half and I really could see no way back. They were just too big and they out-muscled us.

"But scoring on the stroke of half time gave us belief. We came out all guns blazing in the second half and were unlucky not to win."

The draw saw Calne pull level with Corsham at the top of the Dorset and Wilts table, but Wicks insists his team are still underdogs for the title.

He said: "Corsham have a much better points difference so we have to rely on them losing. I wanted to finish fifth or better this year, so we are well on target for that."