Devizes RFC

Saddlebacks go two from two before heading into the season proper next weekend

Devizes welcomed local rivals, Swindon to the Chivers Ground on a late summer evening.  The conditions were good and Devizes had a squad of thirty one looking to get some more match fitness before going into the season.  Last season, these sides won, one match a-piece, therefore this was going to be a good test for both sides going into the new season.  Both sides coincidentally are in the same league this coming season, but nothing can really be read into this result, with both sides missing some players. This was the final opportunity for Devizes players to put their case forward to start in next week's league game under the watch of Head Coach, Neil Loader.

Devizes kicked off, with the visitors starting the better, using their big, physical runners.  The Devizes lads, led by skipper Lewis Paget held their own and started to assert themselves with some nice phases in possession with fly half, Morgan Wellard pulling the strings.  Devizes were quicker to the breakdown in the first quarter and a couple of breakdown penalties saw them edge up the field and off a lineout, the maul got to work and was brought down a few inches short.  Some short, powerful carries from the forwards, saw prop, Sam Holloway continue his excellent pre-season try scoring form, as he burrowed over from close range.  Wellard converted to make it 7-0.

The second quarter saw a few changes in both lineups, and it was the visitors who hit back next to level the scores.  Despite a phenomenal cover tackle by Wellard, Swindon took advantage of some good offload play to go over in the corner.  Devizes continued to do well at the breakdown and from a maul, it was that man, Sam Holloway who bagged his second of the day, converted by Wellard.

The third quarter saw further changes made, and Devizes were battling well, maintaining the defensive line with few line breaks from the visitors.  It was after some good inroads into the Swindon defence, which saw the versatile Will Hine burst through a couple of tackles from ten metres out to bag Devizes’ third try.  Josh Cook, now on kicking duties, slotted the extra to make it 21-7.

Going into the final quarter, huge credit to Swindon as they scored a couple of quick fire tries to bring the scores level at 21-21.  One of these, being a really well executed backs move.  Devizes enjoyed the better of the final ten minutes however, and after some concerted pressure, orchestrated by Cook and playmaker / front rower Kieran Hiscock, the ball was worked onto the wing to none other than Holloway, who burst over the line for his hat-trick.  Cook added the extras.

This was a good workout for both teams and although Devizes were narrow winners, the result is irrelevant at this point and more so the manner of the performance is more important.  Devizes can go into their Regional 2 Tribute Severn league match at home to Thornbury next Saturday with confidence and will be looking to put down an early marker in the season.