DEVIZES suffered a 39-29 defeat away to Yeovil in Southern Counties South at the weekend.
Despite travelling without several key members of the squad, the Saddlebacks produced some creative play up front to take a try bonus point as a consolation from their 10-point defeat.
Following an early setback where the hosts charged into a 7-0 lead, Devizes responded with fervour to square the game.
Led by skipper Lewis Paget and brother Charlie, the visitors found holes in the Yeovil defence and winger Oli Bird dotted down in the left-hand corner.
Devizes then moved into the lead when a rolling maul close to the Yeovil line saw Sam Holloway come up with the ball to make it 12-7.
The topsy-turvy contest continued as Yeovil levelled following an error at the lineout on the Devizes five-metre line.
Devizes had the last laugh of the first 40 though as they edged in front prior to the whistle with a score from another rolling maul.
Rhys Harries went over to make it 19-12 to the Saddlebacks at the break.
The visitors got off to a nightmare start in the second period after a Yeovil back intercepted the ball close to his own goal line and ran the length of the pitch before dotting down.
Devizes responded once again as young fly half McLean threw a wonderful pass to Bird on the left wing who dotted down to make it 24-17.
After this score, the momentum would swing firmly towards the home team.
Yeovil scored 10 unasnwered points before Devizes’ final try of the game edged the visitors back ahead.
The Saddlebacks’ try could not stop the bleeding however, as Yeovil crossed the whitewash twice in the final five minutes to take all five points on offer.
Elsewhere, Swindon comfortably won their derby against Swindon College Old Boys 41-7.
Meanwhile, Corsham were heavily beaten 43-5 at home to Frome.
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