CALNE warmed up for this weekend's Southern Counties Junior Vase final by edging Trowbridge 2nd in a high-scoring Dorset & Wilts Two North encounter at Anchor Road.

The home side, who host Berkshire Shire Hall in the cup showpiece this weekend, were missing a third of their team through injury but made a good start when player-coach Alan Wicks crashed over the line after a driving maul.

Trowbridge responded with a try of their own, setting the tone for the remainder of an exciting encounter.

The next try came from the home side as Chris McAlonan burst through and passed to Adam Young to score under the posts.

Again Trowbridge responded and the see-saw nature of the game continued as both sides wrapped up the try bonus point in the opening half hour.

Calne's Jamie Palmer chipped over the defence and gathered to score a fine try before Liam Kearney supported a long-range break to touch down.

In the second half, both sides traded scoring blows, good ruck work from Dave Evans and Wicks allowed the rampaging Craig Harkess to burst through for a try.

Young scored his second, but Trowbridge appeared to have won it when they edged in front with only a minute left.

Instead, with the referee calling 'last play' man of the match Young broke the defensive line and fed Simon Hansen, who found Harkess to go over for his second, Kearney slotting the conversion to seal the triumph.

Calne chairman Chris Austin said: "This is perfect preparation for next Saturdays cup final and with our regular back line unavailable the guys really stepped up and put in a fantastic performance.

"Every player involved put in one hell of a shift.''