DEVIZES are Southern Counites South champions after defeating Wimborne 18-16 in a mudbath at the Chivers Ground yesterday.

The Saddlebacks, who needed just a point to clinch an historic first-ever promotion to South West level, instead did it in right way, with their 19th win from 22 league games this season.

A second-half try from lock Lewis Paget and fly-half Andy Thompson's expertly-taken drop goal ensured their was no way back for the visitors - the only side who could have denied the home side the crown - despite a late revival.

Fly-half Tom Moysey could have earned the Dorset men - who also saw the chance of a promotion play-off slip away as second-placed Trowbridge claimed a bonus-point win at Oakmedians - a draw with a conversion of their second late try, but he skewed his kick well wide to start the home celebrations.

Wimborne, with three games still to play before yesterday, needed a bonus point triumph, deny Devizes one in the process, to have any hope of snatching the league title but in filthy wet and windy conditions, that looked a long shot from the start.

And their hopes were all but ended by an opening 40 minutes which the Saddlebacks totally dominated.

Nudged forward by Thompson's probing boot and rampaging running from the back row of Julian Taylor, Jake Richardson and James Gaiger, Devizes spent most of the half camped in Wimborne territory.

Richardson's break led to a Thompson penalty that drifted wide on five minutes but after 12 minutes the fly-half was on target from 30 metres after more good work by the pack.

A rare foray downfield from the visitors set up a penalty chance for Moysey that also drifted away before a clever box kick from home skipper Tom Collins saw wing Jorge Wadman held up just short of the line.

That merely set up the position for Devizes to pummel away at the visitors' line for a full five minutes before Wimborne transgressed once too often and the home side were awarded a penalty try that Thompson easily converted.

With the home pack dominating the fringes, Thompson booted a penalty on 26 minutes and narrowly missed another chance before the interval with his side comfortably in control.

Wimborne made a bright start to the second period and Moysey converted two quick penalties to eat into the lead.

But 10 minutes in, after full-back Chris Barter had charged down the left touchline, Devizes worked a position off a lineout and Paget ploughed over from close range.

Thompson could not land the conversion and Moysey was also off target with a visiting penalty shot, but the home fly-half made amends just before the hour mark, defying the conditions to knock over a superb drop goal from 30 metres.

That seemed to have wrapped up victory for the home side, but Wimborne made a defiant last stand, crossing for a try in the left corner while Saddlebacks replacement Craig Bryant was in the sin-bin.

With the large crowd just waiting for the full-time whistle to toast the title, another home replacement Steve Rowbotham went into the sin-bin, allowing the visitors to rumble upfield and add a second try as time ran out.

But Moysey's attempt to square things up flew wide and the home players punched the air as the final whistle confirmed the title was theirs.

REACTION AND PICTURES FROM DEVIZES' LEAGUE TRIUMPH IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD