ROYAL Wotton Bassett extended their lead at the top of the Southern Counties South table with their 11th straight win on Saturday.

Alan Low’s side hosted Dorset Dockers at Ballard’s Ash and secured a 28-3 win to lengthen the gap between themselves and chasing Midsomer Norton to nine points.

Bassett were missing 18 players across the club going into the weekend, and that was further compounded when they lost Gary Williamson quite early on – replaced by Low – before Hamish Forbes-Keith turned his ankle and was replaced by Connor Tomley.

Kyle Lovell was able to open the scoring for the hosts before Nick Parker went over for his first try since rejoining Bassett to give the home side a 14-3 lead at the break.

Lovell and Parker both secured their braces in the second period to secure the bonus point win in a heated second half, which saw both sides have a player sent to the sin bin.

“It was a good performance and the guys did well,” said Low.

“We got control up front early on and it was a good day at the office.

“We had 18 players missing, either through injury or other commitments, across the club, so to get the three performances in that we got in with the firsts, seconds and thirds was cracking.

“We know what Dockers try and do and if you give them a little bit of space to play, they will play. and have scored a lot of points this year.

“They put us under some early pressure and then our forwards took control of the game and the firepower out in the backs is really strong.

“We had Nick Parker return at full-back, so it was good to see him in the mix and got two tries.

“He is a class player, so to get him back on a regular basis has been very good for the club.

“Josh McCafferty, who is a 19-year-old Colt, was superb and he is there on merit.

“It was a battle and we knew we had been in a game when we came off the pitch."

Bassett were also buoyed by the news of North Dorset completing a 25-23 win over Midsomer Norton to hand Low’s side a huge boost in their title challenge.

“North Dorset have been going really well at the moment and their cup run shows how well they are doing,” added the Bassett head coach.

“They came to us and we completely controlled the game at our place, so it was an interesting one when that score cropped up.

“They have done us a favour.”