DEVIZES captain Tom Collins believes Saturday’s 24-13 victory at Maidenhead could be a watershed moment in the Saddlebacks’ first season in South West One East.

Luke Rapson, Chris Barter and Moses Navunisaravi scored the tries as Collins’ men secured their first league away win of the campaign – against a side who were playing two divisions above them only last season.

The Chivers Ground side have won three of their first seven matches since being promoted to the division for the first time at the end of last season, but scrum-half Collins reckons Saturday’s effort could prove to be one of the most important.

“I think that finally we’ve got a bit of belief in our team that we can compete at this level,” he told the Gazette & Herald.

“I think that is something that we have been lacking in the games we have lost so far, but we’ve finally come through one (away from home) and it was a fantastic win for us.’’ Devizes host Marlow on Saturday and Collins said: “I hope that mentality can continue now.

“We went up to the game on a bus with a few of the older boys from the club and the team really pulled it out of the bag.

“Other teams will look at this club as a small one that has come up and we’re up against a David and Goliath scenario most times this season, with teams from towns like Swindon, Salisbury, Reading and Cheltenham.

“We’ve found that, in the forwards, we’re coming up against packs that are several kilos heavier per man than us.

“But we’ve worked hard on our fitness this season and I think we’ve shown we can compete."

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