ROBBIE Maclean dotted down a hat-trick as a superb second half saw Devizes storm to a 43-22 away win at North Dorset.

The Saddlebacks’ 10th win of the season against the side who are currently propping up the rest of the division kept Devizes just ahead of Swanage & Wareham in fourth.

It was the hosts that made the better start their physical, hard-running forwards trying to assert dominance.

The young Devizes side stood up well to the challenge although a high tackle allowed Dorset to take a three-point lead.

Fly-half Rory Brown converted a penalty of his won to level the score.

The hosts took full advantage as Devizes gave away possession too easily at the kick-off and eventually found their way over the try-line thanks to a kind bounce from a cross-field kick. The conversion made it 10-3.

Devizes responded well and through strong carries in the pack, the ball was worked for Lewis Paget to find the gap and cut the deficit to two points.

Again North Dorset grabbed a converted score following another series of rumbles in the pack and several penalty offences against the visitors.

A Chris Barter interception sparked Devizes back into life as they worked the ball wide to send Kieran Hiscock crashing over. Brown added a penalty as the Wiltshire side pulled the score back to 17-16.

The teams traded tries to leave the half-time score at 22-21 to the hosts, as Robbie Maclean scythed through after Dorset had grabbed their own third try.

Devizes dominated the second half with 22 unanswered points, kicked off by Maclean’s second of the day off the back of great play from Sam Holloway, Quinn Clark and Jordan Walker. Brown converted.

They went again with skipper Paget leading by example. After a couple of breaks from the pack the ball found its way to Sam Holloway, who dodged a couple of tackles for his sixth try of the season and a 33-22 lead.

Barter picked up the next try, winning the chase after the ball ricocheted off Scott’s feet.

Just like the previous week, Devizes got another try with the final play of the game. Bramwell generated quick ball and Clark showed excellent handling for Maclean to gallop clear for his hat-trick try.

Elsewhere in the division, Corsham fell to a 43-12 defeat on the road at Swanage & Wareham.

Swindon College Old Boys’ match against league leaders Grove was abandoned.