MINETY opened 2018 in style as they went level on points with county rivals Warminster with a 32-0 win over their visitors in Dorset & Wilts One North.

The visitors started the day in third place but were shut out at Minety Fields to the delight of home coaches Andy Grayson and Hywel Rees.

Minety opened their try account in the 14th minute as fly-half Tom McAllister's break set up centre Jack Howse to go over after evading defenders, Garin Garland adding the conversion.

The second try arrived as, after a forward drive from a lineout, Garland fed McAllister and the ball went through the hands of full-back Duncan Simpson and Howse before winger Dave Cooke went over.

The hosts lost front row Nick Britten to a knee injury but Garland landed the penalty and added another after half-time.

Colin French also departed injured but two converted tries wrapped up the bonus point, number eight Andrew Hibbard touching down after good work from Ben Sellick and Hoase before Garland exchanged passes with Cooke to touch down and convert both.

Coach Grayson said: “I couldn’t have asked for more. We’ve been working at keeping the ball alive in training and managing game situations and we executed brilliantly.

"Our offloads set up our backs, who looked dangerous all game, while our forward play and tackling was the best I’ve seen since I’ve been at the club.”

Pewsey Vale scored five tries to their opponents' four as Royal Wootton Bassett 2nd were defeated 35-27.

After falling behind to an early converted try, Vale responded as wing Chris Takel went over and centre James Haynes converted before adding a penalty shortly after.

Two more Pewsey tries followed in quick succession as hooker Jeremy Horton crossed the whitewash and Haynes sprinted in from halfway, converting his own score.

Bassett scored a second converted try then, after Haynes had landed another penalty, an unconverted one to ties the scores at 22-22 each.

Vale number eight Olly Spence touched down as the scrum pushed over the Bassett line, but the visitors scored their fourth to earn at least a bonus point.

With 10 minutes to go a dynamic move combining backs and forwards down the right flank was finished by replacement hooker Sam Flippance, Haynes adding a penalty as time ran out.