Witney 36, Cooper-Avon Tyres 0

CATs were outclassed in Oxfordshire but the battling performance gave coach Mark Simmons much cause for optimism.

The Melksham men fought from the first whistle to the last against a team riding high in the Southern Counties North.

Witney booked their place in round three of the EDF Senior Vase with a hat-trick of tries in each half, but Simmons said Saturday's result was immaterial.

"It was a gutsy performance against a team who are flying in their league," he said.

"Witney run five teams, four of which compete in the league, so they are obviously a well-organised club.

"Their first team had two physios and a whole entourage of coaching staff. At Melksham I run the line, hand out the water bottles and treat the players so you can see what we were up against.

"When our committee arrived at the ground the Witney officials invited them for a pre-match meal in the clubhouse.

"The only problem was, most of our committee were playing. I think half of them ate the food anyway."

Henry Lamb, Tom Harper and Dan Purkiss were the try-scorers for Witney in the first half, which ended 17-0 to the home side.

A brace from flanker Will Worrall and a Jamie Lamb try sealed a comfortable win for the hosts, who defended solidly to prevent a CATs consolation.

"We could have dropped our heads and conceded 100 points, but we kept battling right to the end," said a proud Simmons.

"It's a rebuilding process for us this season and we recognise we may have to take a few steps back to move forward again.

"The main thing is to make sure the lads keep enjoying their rugby so they come back every week looking to improve."

CATs visit North Dorset tomorrow and Simmons is expected to field a back row with an average age of just 18.

"I don't see the point in shielding them from it," he said.

"These lads are the future of the rugby club and they will only get better with more experience at this level.

"But we are still a very young side. Maybe we could get a sponsorship deal with Pampers - that would set us up nicely for the rest of the season."