MARLBOROUGH maintained their unbeaten record in Southern Counties South, but were forced battle back from an 11-point half-time deficit as their league credentials were given a thorough examination by Devizes at The Common.

The travelling Saddlebacks made a superb start, racing out to a 20-8 lead, but required a Matty Holloran penalty to earn a share of the spoils after the home side had fought back.

Devizes struck first with good hands playing in full-back Luke Rapson for the try which fly-half Rory Brown converted but the hosts hit back with a score of their own as Ratu Viura, who was on for a blood replacement after scrum-half Will Grant suffered a kick to the head, touched down.

The Saddlebacks started to dominate and after snaffling a home lineout deep in their 22, Craig Bryant's determination saw him beat his man to the ball to dot down.

Rapson then got his second of the day after a loose ball was kicked downfield for him to win the foot race to go over.

An exchange of penalties, Brown for Devizes and James Clancy for Marlborough, head coach Chris Budgen's words of encouragement gradually began to boost Marlborough's cause.

Frome a retreating scrum, number eight Inosi Laqekoro picked up and made a good break, the ball moving out to Viura who drew the covering defence to pass inside to Tauyavu Bativagone to score.

The conversion was missed but the home team attacked again and Clancy booted a penalty from in front of the posts.

With half-time closing in, a lapse in the Marlborough defence allowed Lewis Paget to bundle over for a converted score and 27-16 advantage,.

Playing with the advantage of the slope in the second half, wing Viura drove forward and, from another scrum, Laqekoro picked up and drove forward, developing the position from which prop Lotu Ngungutau broke free, handed off the defence and scored.

Clancy converted to cut the gap to four points and, when Devizes lost concentration in defence, Jake Williams, who had moved to scrum-half took a quick tap penalty and surprised them to run in unchallenged, Clancy converting for a 30-27 lead However, again Devizes responded, putting the pressure on to allow Holloran to land a penalty to tie the scores with the injured Brown off the field.

The tense final five minutes saw a number of penalties awarded, Clancy again kicking his side in front, only for Holloran to coolly do likewise to restore parity.