PEWSEY Vale will not be able to claim a top-five finish in Dorset & Wilts One North this season after they suffered a surprise 37-10 defeat at home to Wiltshire rivals Melksham.

With two games left to play in 2017-18, Vale are now 14 points behind Minety immediately above them, meaning they cannot overhaul that deficit before the campaign comes to an end.

Vale may now be hard pressed to keep hold of sixth spot as both Chippenham 2nd and Melksham below them have games in hand.

Meanwhile, Minety were unable to improve their own league position after they saw another fixture lost to the weather as their scheduled home game against bottom side Swindon 2nd was postponed after an early morning pitch inspection.

Despite two days of dry weather and some sunshine, there was still surface water on all three of the club’s pitches.

No date has been set for the re-arrangements, although it is looking as if Minety’s season will be extended into early May for the first time in many years.

  • SUTTON Benger can clinch the Dorset & Wilts Two North title this weekend with a bonus-point success at home to Colerne after they ran out 86-7 winners over visiting Royal Wootton Bassett 3rd last time out.

It was a dominant display from table-topping Benger, with their forwards securing the breakdown throughout the game, allowing the backs to utilise quick ball.

Will Blackmore commenced the scoring after only five minutes. Shortly afterwards, Ollie Maher extended the lead with a penalty from halfway.

Benger found success throughout the 80 minutes with a strong running game, as George Dent and Daniel Battley made numerous breaks through the Bassett defence to score a try each in the first half.

A superb crossfield kick then allowed Matt Baker to score in the corner before further tries came from captain Callum Harford and Maher before the break.

The villagers did not let up in the second half, scoring eight further tries. Gino Chamberlin got the ball rolling followed by tries for Lance Berkley, Ben Hooper and two more from Chamberlin.

Bassett managed to score a consolation try after a sustained period of pressure before the hosts’ final try came from Battley, capping off a superb performance from the Benger centre partnership alongside Dent, who scored a hat-trick.