CAPTAIN Tom Collins is hoping part one of Devizes’ South West One East mission is close to completion as they head into their mid-season break.

Despite Saturday’s controversial 19-18 home defeat by Windsor, the Saddlebacks have made a hugely-impressive start to their debut season at South West level, winning six and drawing two of their 14 league encounters despite losing three of the first four.

Scrum-half Collins, one of two try scorers in last weekend’s narrow defeat, believes the London Road men have made a significant impact in the division, an away win at Maidenhead and draws at both Reading and Swindon among their eye-catching results.

“The aim is to stay up because it always is when you are promoted,’’ he said. “Targets change throughout the year, but we’re in a solid mid-table position and hopefully that is what we are able to aim at now.

“When we started we had our target of five wins (before Christmas) and we’ve got six and two draws, which is essentially seven wins. We set our targets quite high, while at the same time being realistic, but I think we’ve proved to a lot of people that we belong in this league.

“It’s testament to the hard work the boys, the coaches and everyone has put in at the club. Hope-fully another bonus will be that people will see how we’re doing and want to be part of it and we can get some extra players in key positions.’’

Devizes were denied a landmark win over second-placed Windsor in contentious circumstances when visiting fly-half Chris Laidler landed a 40m injury-time kick after a penalty originally awarded to the home side was reversed by referee Andrew Clune.

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