ALTHOUGH an erratic pre-season preparation had scaled down expectations the Saddlebacks were confident that they could start the League programme with a win against a club they had beaten 41-5 in the equivalent game last season.

But a good all round Westbury team had other ideas.

From the kick off Westbury controlled the set pieces, matched Devizes in the line-outs and were more decisive at rucks and mauls. Consequently the Saddlebacks were starved of possession and were on the back foot the few times they won the ball. Scrum half Tom Collins had his work cut out simply to get the ball away and young lock Mike Walsh, in his first game, had a baptism of fire in the scrums but showed promise in the line-outs.

Under pressure and with so little continuous possession, Devizes were unable to develop any strategic answer to the grip which Westbury exerted for most of the game.

In very dry and hot conditions an aggressive and purposeful Westbury pack took the game to a Devizes team that appeared very lethargic. Within ten minutes Westbury had scored from a move off the back of a line-out exploiting Devizes hesitancy in defence.

It took another 15 minutes before Devizes put together a penetrating phase of play, which ended with a penalty that Alex Bennett convertedto reduce Westbury lead to 7-3

Westbury continued to threaten the Devizes line with simple loop movementsin the threequarters that released their strong running fullback who made several telling breaks. A charged down Devizes kickwas retrieved by Westbury who were stopped just short of the Devizes line as half time approached.

An opportunity to rethink and increase resolve seemed to make little difference to Devizes performance in the second half. From a line-out in the Devizes 22, slack defence allowed Westbury to score from a straightforward passing movement. The conversion stretched their lead to 14-3.

As Devizes tried desperately to use ball under pressure their mistakes multiplied. Westbury were content to stop any progress with some accurate line kicking.

They missed a kickable penalty and the camped in Devizes territory, wheeled a maul from a line-out and bulldozed over the Devizes line to go into a 19-3 lead.

Will Orr came on as a Devizes replacement and straightwayset off on adefence splitting diagonal run thatended with a Devizes lineout in the Westbury five metre area. Because of a deliberate infringement Devizes were awarded a penalty try which Alex Bennett easily converted to give Devizes a glimmer of hope at 19-10.

But Bennett missed a penalty when there was just time to have manufactured another winning score.

A Powergen Cup game at home next week will be followed by an away game against ex-South West 2 team, Dorchester who will provide a major challenge.

Devizes 2nds 88

Westbury2nds 0

DEVIZES started the new season with a breathtaking performance as they ran in 14 tries against Westbury.

The sunshine and hard ground suited the power and speed of the home side's new Fijian imports, with number eight Metaga and winger Timo catching the eye.

Home-grown talents Young and Hale also had fine games.

Devizes surged into a 52-0 half-time lead and, despite having three second half tries disallowed by the referee, still went on to stretch the margin of victory even further.

The scorers of the tries, of which nine were converted, were Young (2), Sega (2), Dyton, Carter, Webb, Hale, Mara, Timo, Kerley, Metaga, Tag and Kamei.