ROYAL Wootton Bassett were put to the sword in the second half of their trip to Salisbury as they suffered a first defeat of the new South West One East season.

Alan Low’s side had claimed the maximum 10 points from their opening two games and may have fancied their chances of adding to that haul at the weekend after edging ahead 14-12 early on.

However, Bassett had fallen 26-14 in arrears by the time the interval arrived, and it was one-way traffic for Salisbury in the second half as the hosts finished as 48-19 winners.

Coach Low said: “In the first 40 minutes, we were well in the game.

“We were getting into good positions, we just weren’t quite able to finish off the moves and make it tell on the scoreboard.

“We went into half-time thinking we were pretty comfortable and looking to get more tempo into the game, which would suit us, but we failed to compete in the second half.

“We had injuries to cope with, but Salisbury came out and scored early and the guys got a bit rattled.

“After two good wins, it’s the first time that our backs have been against the wall. We need to respond to that challenge a little bit better.”

An early converted try saw Salisbury take the initiative on Saturday, but Bassett hit back through a try for second row Chris Patterson, with fly-half Tom Fieldsend slotting a long-range conversion.

Salisbury restored their lead with another try but Bassett responded once more, with prop Chris Rowland dotting down of the back of a rolling maul and Fieldsend’s kick putting the visitors in front.

Sadly for Bassett, this would be the only point in the game where they led as Salisbury added two converted tries before the break and then dominated the second half, with a second try for Patterson the only addition to the visitors’ side of the scoreboard.

Swindon remain at the foot of the table without a point to their name after suffering a third consecutive defeat, with Old Centralians triumphing 48-12 at Greenbridge Road.

Richard White and Jack Badminton both got over the whitewash for the hosts, with Tom Carpenter adding a sole conversion.

Swindon skipper Mike Thompson said: “Old Centralians are a good side but we had spells when we played some good rugby.

“They were a bit more physical than us when it came to rucks and the set-piece, and I think we eased off them.

“That was the difference come the end of the game.”

Elsewhere, Swindon College Old Boys were unable to add to last weekend’s season-opening win over Dorchester in Southern Counties South as they lost 38-3 at Frome.

Supermarine remain without a Dorset & Wilts One North win after losing 42-12 at home to Melksham.