PEWSEY’s encouraging end to the season gave them a chance of avoiding the Dorset & Wilts One North drop.

Bottom two Devizes 2nd and relegated Calne meet next week, with a Devizes win sending Vale through the trapdoor.

Vale though rounded off their campaign with a bonus point triumph – their fifth home win in a row – despite a strong start from the visitors.

Two yellow cards in quick succession for killing possession unlocked the door for the home side,who scored three converted tries in the resulting ten minutes.

Number eight Phil Vallis went over from the back of a driving scrum and, from the restart more pressure sent flanker Phil Hobbs between the posts.

The third came two minutes later when centre Sikeli Ratubuli finished a backs move with a storming run, scrum half Tom Taylor landing all three conversions.

Restored to 15 men, Combe rallied but Pewsey finished the half with a try from wing Toni Bloomfield, Taylor adding the extras.

A yellow card to lock Matt Palmer two minutes in to the second half put pressure on Pewsey, but the next score came from Ratubuli who intercepted a pass and ran in, Taylor converting.

With Palmer back on the pitch, centre Roko Rokowai forced his way through a tight defence to score, Taylor again adding the extras.

Two tries from fly-half James Haynes, both from close range, the first converted by Taylor; the second by Haynes himself wrapped up Vale’s afternoon, Combe managing two late responses.

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