DEVIZES closed to within seven points of fifth-placed Sherborne in Southern Counties South by claiming a 22-12 success in Dorset on Saturday.

The Saddlebacks are now unbeaten on the road in four matches as they clinched their fourth victory of the campaign.

Aided by the wind in the first half, Devizes established good early territory in the Sherborne half and Rory Brown's early penalty got the visitors on the board.

They continued to pressurise Sherborne and, after scrum-half Tom Collins fell just short, a bounce of the ball found the hands of Craig Bryant, whose pass to the supporting Jorge Wadman brought the first try of the day, Brown converting.

Back came Sherborne, with some strong ball carrying but just after the half hour mark, solid ball carries in the pack saw Lewis Paget smash over from five yards out to put Devizes into a solid 15-0 lead.

The away side played simple, sensible rugby after the break and, with their scrum marching forward at every opportunity, a penalty try handed Brown an easy conversion for 22-0.

Skipper Josh Gould was then denied what would have been the bonus-point try, with a knock-on adjudged before Sherborne responded with two tries, on converted to reduce their arrears.

The wheels appear to have come off Marlborough's promotion charge with the one-time leaders slipping to a second successive defeat, this time 15-0 at home to Swanage & Wareham, who have usurped them at the top of the table.  Again struggling with unavailability, Marlborough were unable to find their usual rhythm despite a fine performance from 17 year old James Clancy, standing in at scrum-half.