ROYAL Wootton Bassett saw their hopes of beating Sherborne washed away as they failed to cope with wet conditions to fall to a 12-9 defeat at home.

The Ballards Ash side went into the game looking to keep the pressure on at the top of the Southern Counties South division but torrential rain saw those ambitions slip away.

Skipper Dave Hogg was able to add some early points for the hosts with the boot but mistakes cost the hosts as Sherborne went over the line twice to secure the win.

“We started off really well with lots of possession and got some scores on the board through some penalties from David Hogg,” said head coach Alan Low.

“But the weather was probably the worst we have had since I have been here and we didn’t play the conditions very well.

“We didn’t kick very well and our kick chase left a bit to be desired, so we put ourselves under pressure.

“In a game like that, where we had the majority of the possession, we probably should have done more with the ball we had.

“The bits to take out is that we have had a really young side this year and for me now, those young lads have had time to bed in and it is time to step up to the plate now.

“It’s a game like that and (against) North Dorset that are the learning curves and at the same time, we have got to be looking to put teams like that away.

“Their tries were errors and it was one of those games where we needed to manage the game better.”

Sherborne were able to close the gap to Bassett in fifth-place to just one point with the win, but with Midsomer Norton the only side above Low’s team to win last weekend, the defeat did not prove so costly in their promotion bid.

“We were lucky at the weekend that I think there was only one side around us that won,” added the Bassett chief.

“We’ve stated that we want to be pushing for promotion and games like that - certainly at home - we should be putting teams away.

“We have to take that back, shut the doors and sort our ship out.”