MARLBOROUGH began life under a new coaching set-up with a narrow 14-10 defeat at Dorset side Sherborne in Southern Counties South on Saturday.

Former head coach Chris Budgen has moved on to Welsh side Bedwas with players Leo Tuliva and Lotu (Feiloaki) Ngungutau taking up the coaching reins at The Common.

Club fixture secretary Mike Banfield said: "(They are) very good players who have always been leaders on the pitch anyway.

"It's great to have them stepping up and taking on the team.

"Saturday was very positive and all the players are very committed to the new set-up.''

Marlborough missed an early penalty and Sherborne responded with a converted try with their first real attack of the game.

The home side scored again when a kick through allowed them to score under the posts.

Another two missed kicks for Marlborough in the first half were to prove costly, despite a revival after the break.

Ngungutau came on as did Jake Horwood, who was making his first team debut and with captain Jack Lynd switched to number eight, scrum-half Jake Williams was starting to control the game.

Driving runs by Sam Gouldbourn gave them good field position and Lynd was there with a driving run to get over the line.

The conversion was missed but Marlborough continued to pile on the pressure before fine work by Jamie Pittams charged the ball down and fly-half James Clancy dived on the loose ball to score.

A strong late defensive display handed Devizes a fourth Southern Counties South win on the trot as they prevailed 18-11 at Bath side Walcot on Saturday.

Missing several players, including captain Josh Gould, the Saddlebacks managed three tries in a mudbath to maintain their good form on their return from the Christmas break.

Walcot took the lead with a penalty after Devizes pack leader John Angell had been sin-binned for slapping away a quickly-taken penalty.

But despite being down to 14 men for 10 minutes, the Saddlebacks levelled with a Rory Brown penalty before the first try of the day was scored after a break through the defence by wing Lewis Dodds.

Resulting phases from the pack saw Craig Bryant provide a beautiful assist to the supporting Lewis Paget, who crossed over in the corner.

Angell returned and Walcot themselves were reduced by a sin-binning before kicking their second penalty to reduce arrears to two points.

But, playing some good rugby, Devizes forced their hosts back and when the pack marched Walcot's backwards at a scrummage, Bryant dotted down.

Devizes started the second half well, and after further strong carries from the pack a neat kick over the top of the Walcot defence from scrum-half Harrison Wall was grounded by winger Matty Holloran to make it 18-6.

For the final 25 minutes, the home side dominated, Devizes not helped by Wall being shown a yellow card.

The hosts managed another score, but the visitors then held out for the points.