SUPERMARINE director of rugby John Godsell described his side’s 34-28 victory over Dorset & Wilts 1 North leaders Chippenham 2nds as the pinnacle of his rugby career.
Marine, who sit third in the table but lead the race for promotion, matched their visitors all the way to eventually secure their most impressive victory of the season, which left Godsell elated.
“I am really proud of the players after that win, because they played well throughout against the side at the top of the league,” he said.
“It is the best win in the three years I have been with the club, and I think it is probably the pinnacle of anything I have done in rugby.
“The guys were all really up for it and worked hard for each other and the team spirit shone through.
“We managed to keep them penned in our half and got to their line out and scrum which was important.
“They wanted to run the ball and play expansive rugby but we didn’t let them and kept it tight, and when we did get it wide we had space in the backs to punish them.”
The victory was marred by a broken leg for tight head prop Ben Goody, but Godsell has challenged his players to carry on without him and secure promotion during the last four games of the season.
“Losing Ben was hard because he has been great since he joined us, and we will miss him because he has been a superb influence,” Godsell said.
“But now we need to focus on the rest of the season, and the four games we have left. If we win them all we will go up, so that has to be our focus.”
Minety are Supermarine’s nearest challengers for promotion and lie 11 points back, but pressed their case with a 71-5 victory over Bath Saracens.
The home side ran in 11 tries, and got off to a great start as flanker Gareth Peirce touched down after a kick forward bounced off the goal post.
Richard Fisher scored next, before Jonty Messer added another to make it 19-5 at the break.
Minety cut loose in the second half, and Max Smith got the score moving before Peirce and Fisher both scored the second ties. Winger Robin Greenway soon got in on the act before David Hazell landed a brace.
Fisher completed his hat-trick late and Langdown added gloss to the victory as he sped in for the final touchdown of the afternoon.
Elsewhere in the division Fairford lost 12-5 at home to Bradford on Avon.
In the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier, Swindon College Old Boys secured an impressive win as they beat Princes Risborough 34-7.
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