MARLBOROUGH gained their first victory of the season when they beat local rivals Devizes, with the contest a double header as it also formed a Dorset & Wilts 1st XV Cup semi-final.
Defences were on top for most of the match and although both sides tried to run the ball, tacklers did a superb job. Marlborough played up the slope in a scoreless first half and they did well to hold out Devizes.
Marlborough kept the pressure on after the break, with fly-half Moree Nailago kicking for territory and also for his centres and wings to run onto.
Marlborough missed four long-range penalties but did get the game’s crucial score.
After Hugo O’Neill had returned from the sin-bin for an offence at the breakdown, another kick through by Nailago bounced right for Nakeleto Nadakeke to dive over, with full-back Brad Cannon converting.
Devizes responded with a penalty after the restart to make the score 7-3 but Marlborough landed a kick of their own to see out the win.
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