PEWSEY mounted a last-quarter surge that made the final period of this game the most exciting of the season so far before coming up short in Dorset & Wilts One North.

Fairford were first on the board with a penalty, but Vale responded as a lineout and drive for the line for prop Tom Paish to touch down, fly-half Gareth George adding the conversion.

The home side responded strongly and scored an unconverted try just before half time to regain the lead.

Poor Pewsey defending allowed their opponents a converted try within 30 seconds of the restart.

For the next 15 minutes Pewsey found themselves under sustained pressure and a series of scrums on Vale’s five metre led to the referee awarding a penalty try.

Vale responded immediately with a series of forward drives , the back row of Phil Vallis, Olly Spence and Nav Navelinikoro making the yards and Spence going over for a try with 20 minutes left.

Pewsey pressure continued and another try came with a powerful drive to the line by lock Mike Paddick, converted by George.

With ten minutes to go Fairford were reduced to 14 by a sin-binning, but their defence held strong to deny Pewsey a way back into the game.