It was a win for Royal Wootton Bassett in their final match of the year as they defeated South Devon side Ivybridge to continue their good form.
Bassett immediately went on the attack spending the first three minutes in the Ivybridge 22.
In the fourth minute, the ball was sent wide to full-back Henry Toomer who dived over. The conversion attempt from scrum-half Rhys Floyd had to be assisted by skipper Sam Baker securing the ball in the gale to enable the kick.
It drifted wide and Bassett had a very early lead and the South Devon men may have feared the worst having succumbed to Bassett 78-8 earlier in the season.
The visitors continued to have all the territory and most of the possession and a sniping run from Floyd was just held up after a sequence of phases.
Hooker Mitchell Gough arrived and was able to get his hand on the ball under a pile of bodies. Floyd converted and Bassett led 12-0.
Ivybridge now took the game into the Bassett half. In the eighteenth minute, a sustained attack yielded a try in the corner. The conversion was missed.
The Wiltshire team went back on the attack. A lineout was secured in the corner and the ball driven on by Bassett but held up. Floyd recycled the ball and Gough scored his second of the game firmly placing the ball on the tryline. Floyd converted and Bassett comfortably led 19-5.
The second half started with a marked decrease in wind intensity but the conditions still contributed to a twenty minute midfield battle littered with penalties and no real pattern.
In the 63rd minute, a clearance from the Ivybridge 22 was fielded superbly by Baker who managed to keep the ball in play. He broke several defenders before being held up.
Bassett’s powerful young winger Mike Clifton somehow managed to emerge with the ball and ploughed through the South Devon defence for the bonus point try. The conversion was missed and Bassett added a late penalty through Floyd to complete the victory.
Bassett now sit eighth in the table with six wins from 12 games and will be pleased overall with that on their return to the South West Premier League. A well deserved break now ensues prior to Bassett hosting fellow Wiltshire side Marlborough in the New Year.
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