HEAD coach Alan Low was left was left brimming with pride after watching his Royal Wootton Bassett side announce themselves in South West One East by ending Newbury Blues’ fearsome unbeaten run at Monks Lane.

Going in to last weekend’s clash, Newbury hadn’t been beaten at home since February 2015 while Bassett are back competing in step six rugby for the first time since their 2009-10 campaign, when they went an entire season without picking up a point.

However, Bassett disregarded the odds in almighty fashion and claimed a maiden South West One East victory to savour by running out 14-13 winners and leaving their hosts feeling blue for the first time in 19 months.

The reaction of some of his club’s more senior members further added to Low’s delight.

“We were just focused on getting the job done and we were really happy to do that but a lot of the older guys were really chuffed with the result, so it was nice to hear their thoughts,” said the Bassett head coach, whose team suffered an agonising last-gasp defeat against Maidenhead in their season-opener.

“We played really well in our first game and lost but this time, our game management was so much better and we did brilliantly.

“Newbury are a really strong side and they hadn’t been beaten at home for a season-and-a-half. “We knew that it was going to be a challenge but our performance was excellent and I was really proud of the lads.

“We’ve had two games against two strong sides but we should be chuffed with how we’ve played.”

Youngster Elye Darragh outsmarted the hosts with an incisive run down the left wing to score in the corner but Newbury hit back shortly after via a penalty.

But the visitors increased their lead with two penalties of their own from skipper David Hogg to fashion an 11-3 advantage.

Soon after the restart, the Blues struck a penalty of their own and rapped at the Bassett door but Low’s men held firm and then Jonathan Clarke struck with a rare drop goal.

Newbury did go over in the corner late on, converting that score, but Bassett had done enough to claim a landmark win.

An ill-disciplined performance saw Chippenham lose their opening home game of the season 25-24 to Banbury.

Harry Taylor gave the hosts an early lead with an unconverted try before Banbury replied.

Skipper Ryan Surry added a second to restore the lead only for the visitors to edge in front with a converted score.

After the break Banbury opened up a 12-point lead following a penalty and a try.

Chippenham hit back through a Bradley Doggett try before prop Luke Corbett was driven over to level the scores at 22-22. 

Taylor’s conversion gave the hosts the lead, but a late penalty gave the visitors the win.