MELKSHAM got the better of Pewsey Vale 20-12 in their mid-table battle in Dorset & Wilts One North on Saturday.

With Melksham still awaiting the move to their new Woolmore Farm home, the match was switched to Vale, who themselves were missing a total of 12 first-team players and head coach Mick Haynes who were either injured or away at a wedding.

In a lively battle, Melksham gradually dominated the scrum, while Vale were disruptive at the lineout.

The visitors were quickly up to pressure the home side's try line, with the ball whipped out quickly for winger Jonny Mills to touch down out wide.

Pewsey piled on the pressure, but the Melksham defence held firm and their attacks were repelled.

Another sortie from the visitors flared with fly-half Callum Hurn breaking the gain line, allowing good passing between the backs to tee up Adam Davies to step the defence and score his first try.

Ten points clear at half-time, the attritional game forced the visitors use their replacements early on in the second period, but Melksham continued to overhaul the hosts, Davies striking out wide for his second of the day.

The game looked to be secure when Ben Brown scored down his wing to make it 20-0, but Pewsey refused to lie down and rallied in the final quarter.

Relentless pressure brought two quick tries through lock Karl Crosbie and centre Jamie Fox, Crosbie adding a conversion.

Minety wrapped up their third victory of the league campaign - and their first on the road - as they battled to a 32-10 success over Devizes 2nd.

Rich Hall's side went sixth in the table Devizes started brightly but a combination of excellent tactical kicking from scrum-half Garin Garland and full back Dale Langdown pushed the home side deep in their own territory.

Garland opened the scoring with a penalty in the 11th minute and then doubled the lead when Devizes were penalised for not releasing the ball.

The visitors laid siege to the Devizes line and only a last-ditch tackle prevented captain Andrew Hibbard from scoring under the posts.

After losing influential centre Jack Ward to a rib injury, Minety were forced to shuffle their line-up but when fly-half Tom McAllister’s kick through was fumbled, front row Owen Richardson seized the opportunity to kick ahead and won the race to touch down under the posts for his first try in Minety first team colours.

Garland’s conversion took the half time score to 13-0.

Minety continued to press at the start of the second half.

Moving the ball well and handling confidently, the villagers set up chance after chance, although it took until the 53rd minute for them to score again.

Prop forward Will North fed second row Ben Scott, whose pass allowed Langdown to score in the corner.

Minety suffered further injuries to Scott, fellow second row Ben Collins and flanker James Stuart, prompting Devizes to play some of their best rugby and breach the Minety line in the 69th minute to bring the score back to 18-5.

Minety regained their composure and man of the match Tom Windle set up the third try with a brilliant 40-metre burst through the defence.

Garland collected the ball and fed McAllister for an easy try before adding the conversion.

Deep into injury time, hooker Tom Claxton collected the ball from a lineout and, with defenders desperately trying to pull him down, barged through to score the bonus-point score, Garland adding the extras.

Captain Andrew Hibbard said: "It's good to know that we have quality cover in every position and I'd like to thank the 2nd team lads for their tremendous support."

Corsham remained top of the pile in the division as they thumped Chippenham 2nd 55-3.

The home side scored nine tries, Kalif Barnes returning to haunt his former team after joining Corsham this season, scoring four times.