DEVIZES claimed their first Southern Counties South victory for nearly a month to leapfrog opponents North Dorset after a thumping 48-17 victory at London Road.

The Saddlebacks' recovery from a difficult opening phase of the campaign continued as they ran in eight tries to record their third win of the season.

The home side were without regular backs Mark Carter and Rory Brown and then lost winger Lewis Dodds in the warm-up, but in came scrum-half Tom Collins with Harrison Wall on the wing and first team manager Julian Taylor taking a place on the bench.

They also made a bright start to the contest as, led by hooker John Angell, fine handling set the backs free.

A brace of tries in the first quarter from second row Lewis Paget put Devizes into a commanding lead and despite North Dorset coming back with two tries of their own, veteran Collins dotted down before prop Tom Reed scored with winger Matty Holloran landing two conversions to make it 24-10 at the break.

With the bonus point already secure, Devizes built on it after half-time, quick thinking from fly-half Travis Orwin taking him under the posts while Tim Alchin rumbled over from close range as the forwards dominated.

North Dorset got a consolation third score of the day, but a brace of tries from tighthead prop Matt Bishop rounded off a superb afternoon for the hosts.

Weakened Marlborough slipped off the top of the table as they were humbled 31-5 at struggling Dorset Dockers.

Due to injuries and unavailability, the visitors were without a number of players, with regular half backs James Farrell and Amori Nailago out and Jamie Pittams was missing.

Marlborough also suffered an early injury to wing Pita Robanakadavu who pulled a hamstring, George Cooper making his debut at fly-half .

Tauyavu Bativagone scored the away side's only points with a try.