RUGBY: Dorchester 11 Devizes 13 (From This Is Wiltshire)

DEVIZES gained revenge for a last-gasp defeat on the south coast last season as they grabbed a narrow Southern Counties South triumph.

The Saddlebacks took advantage of a lapse in home concentration early on as Andy Thompson expertly nailed a cross-field kick to winger Jorge Wadman who had an easy score. Thompson added the extras, but the match then settled into an dour, attritional affair.

Dorchester added their first points of the day with a James Baker penalty, but Thompson responded with his own kick before half time.

A flare-up early in the second period saw second row Lewis Paget yellow-carded, although it was a case of mistake identity as fellow lock Damon Murphy was involved.

Devizes pushed forward, led by Steve Rowbotham’s thunderous tackles and some great ball carrying in the loose. But Dorchester hit back with a well-taken try from full-back Luke Weller to cut the gap to two points.

Devizes had chances to stretch clear again, but poor discipline allowed Baker to land a penalty from 40 metres to give the hosts the lead.

However, the Saddlebacks proved patient in attack, setting up a position from which Thompson dropped a goal to clinch victory.

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