BASSETT'S U16 team earned victory over a competitive Fairford side at Farmor’s School, Fairford.

The last time these two sides had played 15-a-side was at under 12 level and Bassett fielded three players starting for the first time this season - Hamish Forbes-Keith (from the U15 squad), George House-English making a return from a long spell of injury and Ieuan Walton making his debut.

Bassett started the game with purpose and, after five minutes, quick ball from the ruck in their own half saw the ball move from fly-half Tom Hogg to centre Gareth Edwards to wing Walton and finally to full-back Liam Spillane, who beat the last Fairford defenders to score in the left corner.

Unfortunately the conversion attempt from Spillane went wide of the posts.

The next 20 minutes saw Bassett have the majority of territory and possession, but they could not quite execute the final move to unlock Fairford.

The coaches made a tactical change in the 20th minute with Greg Ward coming on at blindside flanker and Captain Ollie Maher moving to number eight.

Five minutes later, they clicked and a great passage of play saw Bassett string the ball from one side of the pitch to the other as they moved closer to Fairford’s line.

The door was finally unlocked by great handling which saw winger Forbes-Keith beat the last defender and touch down close to the right corner.

The difficult conversion was missed by Spillane but Bassett led 10-0 at half time Bassett started the second half where they left off. Scrum-half George House English, caught the Fairford defence flat-footed by darting up the blindside from a scrum 22m out to score the third try of the game.

Bassett then went to sleep and Fairford scored two converted tries in the next 10 minutes bring the score back to 15-14.

Bassett re-gathered themselves and a promising move saw the ball reach Walton who ran in his debut try for the team.

Three minutes later he repeated the trick with an excellent solo effort, collecting the ball 30m out on the left wing, rounding two tacklers and running the ball in under the posts for a try, which was duly converted by House-English.

Leading 27-14 further changes were made, seeing Liam Oliver return to number eight and Matt Gill replace Markus Hardy at inside centre.

Fairford, encouraged by the home support, rallied and scored their third try, but Bassett weren’t finished and a late try by Oliver saw Bassett them home Captain Ollie Maher said: “Whilst it wasn’t a polished performance, it was an enjoyable game.

"With a number of the U16s missing, playing in the afternoon U17 game against Newbury, it gave the rest of the squad a great run-out.

"We stuck to it and got the result we deserved.” Coach Mark Roshier added: “There were a number of strong performances, which is going to make selection for next weekend’s Wiltshire Cup home fixture against Cooper Avon Melksham, all the more hard.”

Squad: Gareth Edwards; Hamish Forbes-Keith; (U15); Matt Gill; Markus Hardy (U15); Tom Hogg; George House-English; Nathan Hunt; Ollie Maher (Capt.); Cameron Pryde; Chris Roshier; David Ruddle; Liam Spillane (U15); Joe Taylor; Greg Ward; Ieuan Walton