CALNE'S up and down form in Dorset & Wilts Two North got back on a rising trajectory as they secured a 33-5 triumph at Combe Down 2nd to close up behind their Bath rivals in mid-table.

Despite Calne's dominance in the scrummage, where the front row of Pete Brownlie, Dave Evans and Tom Morten held sway, the visitors' early attacks were repelled.

Fielding veterans Micky Dyer at flanker and club chairman Chris Austin on the wing, the away side opened the scoring when fly-half Brian Hopkins broke through the defence to dot down.

A three-on-one overlap allowed Down to pull back to within two points before half time but, playing down the slope and with the elements after the interval, Calne took control.

Morten crashed over for a well-deserved score, with scrum-half Dan Treacy adding the conversion to extend the advantage and Hopkins continued to cause havoc as he went over for his second try of the contest.

Number eight Cameron Davies capped his superb match with a brace of tries, Treacy adding all but one of the conversions.

Skipper Morten said: "We didn't start well but in the second half we played some great rugby.

"We travelled with only 15 players which was the biggest disappointment but on the plus side, the 15 on the pitch did Calne proud.''