DEVIZES returned to winning ways in Southern Counties South as Chris Barter's converted try handed them victory at Slaughtergate.

The Saddlebacks made a good start and opened the scoring after bursts from Tom Reed and Lewis Paget through the North Dorset defence.

The ball was worked out to semi-retired first XV team manager Matty Holloran, who dived over. Andy Thompson added the conversion.

North Dorset responded and from a scrum inside their own half managed to get the ball down the line to rapid winger Thomas Stewart, whose footwork bewitched the Devizes defence as he went over for an unconverted score.

The visitors then worked down the blindside to Sam Jones, who deftly kicked ahead and outsprinted the cover to reclaim the ball after a favourable bounce for his side's second try.

A second North Dorset try, this time converted, levelled the scores before Devizes lost Will Paviour, who was stretchered off with a knee injury after a maul collapsed on him, veteran Tim Alchin replacing him.

Devizes finished the half on top and after lung-bursting runs from Lewis Paget and Julian Taylor, Alex Pattle was bundled over the line, with Thompson converting.

With the wind against them in the second period, Devizes faced an uphill battle, with their scrum being put under pressure.

Outstanding defence initially kept out the home side, but scrum-half Robert Sampson darted over and Sam Baker levelled the scores with the conversion.

North Dorset continued to pressure and Sampson scored again off the back of a scrum from five metres out.

Devizes were 24-19 but crucially, Baker missed the conversion.

The Saddlebacks battled back with strong carries from youngster George Starr and centres Rory Brown and Mark Carter before full-back Barter charged down Baker’s clearing kick and Thompson added the crucial winning conversion.