PEWSEY Vale coach Mick Haynes has set his players' sights on rubber-stamping the Dorset & Wilts Two North title this coming weekend after his club's road to Twickenham hit a dead-end.

Haynes admitted the sense of occasion may have got to his players as their dreams of an appearance at the home of English rugby were dashed in the South West Junior Vase final on Saturday.

Gloucester visitors Widden Old Boys, coached by former Gloucester second row Adam Eustace, secured the regional prize and a place in the national semi finals with a five-try display at Wilcot Road.

But an ample consolation prize is within reach for Vale this weekend when they defend their 100 per cent league record against second-placed Avonvale.

Victory for the home side would wrap up the silverware with four matches remaining.

Haynes, whose side have won all of their first 15 league games, said: "I do not underestimate Avonvale and all our attention, after the weekend’s disappointment, is focused now winning on Saturday and continuing the league campaign.

"Our aim is to achieve a clean sweep in the league and this fixture is our biggest league challenge so far.

"We want to get back to Dorset & Wilts One (North)rugby. The challenges of the cup run have shown us what we’ve been missing in terms of competitive rugby.''

Vale unbeaten record in all competitions this season was smashed by a powerful Widden effort in Saturday's final.

Haynes added: "We competed but I think the occasion got to the team, not helped by the volume generated by the visitors’ travelling support (about 120).

"In the first half we never got back into our stride after the first 10 minutes, but the second half showed much more promise.

"The penalty count was too high and 50/50 decisions never came our way, as two yellow cards hit us hard.

"We attracted around 150 spectators on our side, a record for Pewsey, so the occasion was a credit to local rugby.

"That said for a village team to reach, what in effect was, a national quarter final is an achievement in itself.

"Taking on a big well established city team was always a big ask, the experience was worthwhile and the lessons learned valuable.''

A stodgy first half performance from Pewsey and two yellow cards in the second saw the dream of further progress in the competition disappearing long before the final whistle.

Pewsey kicked off and had the visitors under pressure for a full ten minutes.

A penalty was missed then what looked like a certain try was adjudged held up by the referee.

The subsequent five metre scrum was turned over by the visitors who broke out, driving upfield for wing Gavin Deane to go over in the corner, converted by fly-half Jordan Walker.

At the end of the first quarter, following a penalty to the corner, Widden number eight Stu Carroll was driven over from the lineout to touch down.

Pewsey couldn’t match the tempo of the visitors from the breakdown and with two minutes of the half remaining Carroll was over for his second, converted by Walker.

At the same time Pewsey picked up their first yellow card, hooker Jeremy Horton sent to the bin for holding on.

From the restart Pewsey secured the ball and kicked it over the defence, under pressure from the chase, the ball was dropped and centre Ty Lewis picked up and dotted down over the line, fly-half James Haynes adding the extras.

Widden started the second half with a lofted kick and miscommunication in the Pewsey ranks allowed the ball to be caught by Widden flanker Lewis Howkins who sprinted in for the try, converted by Walker, who followed up with a penalty ten minutes later.

No sooner were Pewsey restored to 15 men, a second yellow card to lock Mike Paddock added to their agony, Widden’s Walker kicking another three points.

In the final 20 minutes Vale were more competitive and they pressured the visitors’ line, wing Will Bowerman finishing off a backs move initiated from a forward surge with a try in the corner.

But well into stoppage time, Widden scored a fifth try when wing Josh Llewelyn went over in the corner, converted by Walker.