Corsham maintain 100 per cent start to Dorset & Wilts One North campaign despite valiant Pewsey Vale effort

Understrength Vale were left to rue mistakes at key moments that coughed up possession to the home side but they started well and spent the first 15 minutes in Corsham’s 22 but, crucially were unable to turn this pressure into points as the home team’s defence creaked but held firm.

One such attack ended in turnover, Corsham gaining 70 metres and taking the lead through a Dan Goldsworthy penalty.

At the restart Corsham surged forward and a Pewsey scrum went awry as the ball shot out before being picked up by Corsham scrum-half George Beavis who strolled in for the try, converted by Goldsworthy, who then added a penalty to increase the lead before half-time.

Pewsey played the second half with ambition, though struggled for territory and on 60 minutes Corsham fashioned a well-worked try for Aaron Gale that was converted by Goldsworthy.

Vale upped the effort and were rewarded when prop Tom Baish bounced three defenders off as he crashed over in the corner.

With 10 minutes to go two yellow cards to Corsham for high tackles should have given Pewsey the edge but they were unable to capitalise and a lineout tactical error gifted a try to Corsham’s Taylor Ball to wrap up victory.

Vale head coach Mick Haynes said: “It’s nothing that cannot be sorted out in short order. Territory counts and good work in defence needs reward as the first Corsham try showed. It and the lineout gaffe were killer blows.’’

Corsham coach Tim Draper added: “It was our toughest test of league season to date. An excellent defensive effort was foundation of the win, only conceding a late try when down to 13 players due to two yellow cards.’’

Minety were narrowly beaten 32-24 in a thrilling encounter at Bradford on Avon.

Forced into making a number of late changes through injury, Minety started brightly using their pacy backs but missed two kickable penalties early on and it was the home team who opened the scoring with a penalty through fly-half Fin Dewar.

Minety winger Dave Cooke and full-back Duncan Simpson were held up on the Bradford line in the 20th minute but an 80-metre break out from their own line saw the home team dominate possession and a fine scissor movement in the centre saw Bradford extend their lead with a try.

Another breakaway score for the home team courtesy of centre Tom Culshaw in the 38th minute took the lead out to 15 points.

Minety hit back in injury time when scrum-half Jack Ward spotted an opening from a penalty and raced through to score in the corner.

Fly-half Tom McAllister slotted the difficult conversion and Minety closed the gap almost immediately in the second half as fine backs’ move led to flanker Stephen Brown setting up McAllister for a try.

Minety’s comeback was thwarted in the 45th minute when Dewar intercepted a pass and ran in for his second try before Leo Robertson added a converted score to further extend the lead.

When second row Tim Kirkconel barrelled his way over for Bradford’s fifth try in the 63rd minute the game looked to be over.

But despite having Ward sin-binned, Cooke intercepted a pass and ran in to score beneath the posts, McAllister converting before jinking his way past four defenders to score his second try.

The two team meet again on Saturday, this time in the quarter final of the Dorset & Wilts Vase at Minety.

Devizes 2nd were beaten 45-24 by Warminster, despite tries from Toby Lock, Sean Fox, skipper Tom Collins and Luke Rapson, Collins kicking two conversions.