ALAN Low’s Royal Wootton Bassett side find themselves in a relegation dogfight in South West One East following Saturday’s 29-17 defeat away to Oxford Harlequins.

Despite tasting defeat only once in their opening seven fixtures, after promotion from Southern Counties South last season, injuries have ravaged Low’s side and one win in their last 13 have seen them freefall.

Bassett shipped three first-half tries as, despite a penalty from Domanic Carroll, they trailed 24-3 lead at the break.

With the slope in their favour in the second half, Bassett were back in the contest when Simon Anderton crossed the line twice, converted by Carroll and David Hogg respectively.

Quins picked up three yellow cards in the opening 20 minutes of the second period but went over for their fourth score of the afternoon.

The result leaves Bassett just a point above Swindon, who sit second from bottom, a position that has come as a shock to Low.

“The feedback from the boys at the weekend was that it was a much-improved performance up at Oxford Quins,” said the Ballards Ash chief, who missed the trip to Oxfordshire.

“We squandered a couple of clear chances and didn’t get our game management right and the guys left feeling that we should have come away with a lot more than we did.

“We have to be clinical. They scored three tries from turnovers and we have to be more on the ball and look after it. To give away that try in the 78th minutes to lose the bonus point is gutting.”