DEVIZES put in a fine defensive effort to edge victory over Reading at the Chivers Ground.

Having claimed home wins over Grove and Maidenhead, Devizes were full of confidence as they welcomed back skipper Julian Taylor following concussion.

Devizes struggled throughout the first half to get any suitable territory and defended stoically to keep the visitors at bay.

With a number of scrums awarded due to the handling conditions and time camped in their own 22, Devizes found it tough to gain any territory as the two sides went in at the break level with Tom Reed going close.

The second half, although not the greatest spectacle, showed that Devizes were determined to fight for every point, and within minutes of the restart were awarded a penalty which Rory Brown confidently dispatched to nudge the Saddlebacks into a 3-0 lead.

Now playing with the wind, territory was gained with the box kicking of Tom Collins helping Devizes clear their lines. It wasn’t until entering the final quarter that Devizes got the decisive score.

Turnover ball at the lineout fed to the rampaging Lewis Paget who made a number of yards before being felled.

Some further good runs by the pack saw the ball whipped out to Andy Thompson who played a lovely flat pass into winger Jorge Wadman to go over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Reading came back at Devizes putting pressure on their defence and winning a number of penalties and the referee decided he had seen enough and sent Bryant to the sin-bin for a team penalty.

The numerical advantage eventually began to tell, and after 73 minutes, prop Martin Tustin broke through from close range to dot down.

In bizarre scenes, one of the Reading players went for a drop goal conversion and skewed the effort, meaning it was 8-5 going into the final few minutes.

Devizes were in determined mood and did not let the lead slip, now with Alex Pattle and Tim Alchin brought into the action, keeping the ball close and frustrating the Reading players and Devizes were awarded a penalty that Brown duly dispatched to secure the win.