Tempers boil over as Bassett are beaten (From This Is Wiltshire)

A SUCCESSION of missed chances cost Wootton Bassett dear as they went down 24-12 in a bad- tempered game against Southern Counties South leaders Sherborne.

The game at Ballards Ash saw the referee continually issue yellow cards which disrupted an attractive contest, and Bassett couldn’t quite haul back the visitors lead after going in behind at half time.

The home side had a number of chances to reply in either half, but couldn’t make them count as they slipped to ninth in the table.

Bassett made a good start as they quickly put pressure on the Sherborne line, but a number of infringements forced them to kick for territory before David Hogg gave them a lead early on with a penalty.

But the three points seemed to spur the visitors into action, and their talented backline began to move the ball well before their full-back eventually went in under the posts following a line break.

Bassett themselves were unfortunate not to reply quickly, when a surge into the Sherborne 22 led to Nick Parker firing in an accurate cross-field kick, only for the chance to be spurned with the try-line at Bassett’s mercy.

The visitors struck back with a well-struck penalty before a converted try gave them a comfortable lead at the break.

Bassett should have struck first after the break, but after an exchange of kicks, the ball bounced cruelly for one of the home forwards and the Sherborne winger pounced in predatory style to pick up and score a try which would later be converted.

A number of yellow cards following a succession of scuffles at the breakdown disrupted the flow of the game, and as both sides pushed forward the error count quickly rose.

The introduction of Tim Gallimore in the back-row added something for the home side, and his surging run saw him get to the line only for the referee to adjudge a double movement in touching the ball down.

Hogg added a further three well-struck penalties as Bassett chipped away at the deficit, but further disruption came as the referees issued five more yellow cards before the end of the game.

Elsewhere in the division, Supermarine went down 54-10 away at Trowbridge as they suffered their third straight defeat following promotion from Dorset & Wilts 1 North.

In the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier, Swindon College Old Boys bounced back from their tight defeat at Chipping Norton with an impressive 21-9 win over Gosford All Blacks, while Minety lost 19-17 at home to Combe Down in Dorset & Wilts 1 North.