Sat 25 Oct 2025, 14:00
The Nomads took to The Common first on Saturday 25 October, for their re-scheduled match against Frome RFC. Training during the week had been good and productive, but a number of players are still ‘out’ due to injury and many others had work and family commitments. But out we went onto the top pitch in some glorious autumn sunshine and with a fair-sized crowd on the touchline to cheer the boys on.
And things started well for our 2nd XV, with prop and vice-captain for the day, Bradley Whatley, storming through the Frome defence and scoring a great individual try, which he converted himself! A great start: Marlborough 7-0 Frome.
On eighteen minutes Frome came back and scored going up the slope to level the scores, helped by the Nomads having second row, Chas Kindlon, in the bin on a yellow card. But Whatley wasn’t done yet and scored his second – converting his own try again! Marlborough 14-7 Frome.
Ten minutes later, Whatley was forced off with an injury, and so his afternoon was over. But the Nomads looked competitive and, with the likes of returning Club captain and Number 8, Ollie Spanswick, back in Black & Gold for the Club, nobody on the touchline was despondent. However, another silly penalty and another yellow card saw Frome come back to 14-10 just before the end of the first half.
Half-time score: Marlborough 14-10 Frome
After a decent half-time pep-talk, the Nomads went back to it. Sadly, the second half did not go our way at all. Frome scored a converted try soon after the re-start, and another just five minutes later. The scoreline started to flatter the opposition: Marlborough 14-24 Frome.
Three more tries by Frome brought us to Marlborough 14-43 Frome and it looked unlikely that the Nomads would be able to turn it around, especially playing up the hill and into the wind. But these men don’t give up and scrum-half and former Marlborough Colt, Conner Pacey, was rewarded with a good try, sadly not converted. The scoreline read Marlborough 19-43 Frome as we entered the final quarter.
Two more tries by Frome and, as the referee brought things to a close, it had definitely gone Frome’s way.
Final score: Marlborough 14-57 Frome
The coaches’ and team managers’ assessment:
A loss, especially at home, is always tough to deal with. In this case, and particularly since for much of the first half we were the better side, it was a bitter pill to swallow. Our discipline was not as good as it should have been, and we did not play as coherent a game as we have done previously.
However, let’s be clear – the over-riding sentiment is that these Nomads can and should hold their heads high. We are at Counties 1 and are coming up against the 1st XVs of many of the Clubs we are now playing. We are where we are thanks to some real hard work and the boys deserve great credit. It is going to be a tough season, and nobody will deny that. The performances – individual and collective – are just about there and, with a few tweaks and a bit more ‘game time’ for some, we will prevail!
The Marlborough Player of the Match was Jack Robins for a n all-round display on the wing against stiff opposition. But it was pats on the backs all round when the boys went into the warmth of the Clubhouse for the match tea, awards, and refreshments.
Photos:
Please see the excellent gallery of photos by Ian Thomas in the ‘Gallery’ section on the Club website.
A look forward:
There is no rugby on The Common next Saturday, 1 November. But we are showing the first of the Quilter Autumn International series – England vs. Australia on our BIG screen. Kick-off is at 15:10 but the Clubhouse will be open earlier than that to get the atmosphere and ambience right! See you there!
