DEVIZES Ladies conceded a late try to lose their opening match in South West One 17-12 to old foes St Marys.

After a large recruitment drive over the summer Devizes welcomed new players Gemma Snell, Jo Emslie, Gemma Holton, Sarah Levy and Abi Dalton in to the matchday squad but fell behind when St Marys crossed for a try out wide.

The home side then lost Emma Matthews to injury and were unable to make a scoring impact before half-time.

But led by pacy winger Sian Stevens, the drove upfield in the second half and Gemma Schrader's charge set up the position from which Emily Pratt dotted down, only to have the score ruled out for a knock-on.

Eventually Denise Warbutton dived over the line from the back of the ruck for Devizes’ first score of the day before Pratt gathered the ball and sprinted her way through the defence, running 70 metres to dot down under the posts, allowing Warbutton an easy conversion to level things up.

With 10 minutes to go both sides looked for the breakthrough, but it was the visitors who achieved it with a try three minutes from time.

unfortunately it was Saint Mary’s who came out on top with a try 3 minutes from the end.

Devizes travel to Topsham Ladies a week on Sunday.