Devizes RFC

Devizes returned to play on their home ground for the first time since March last year as they hosted Melksham 2nd XV.  This was the first of two battles against Melksham, with both sides facing each next weekend too.  Next week's match will be at Melksham's relatively new and impressive new home.  Devizes took a lot of positives from the narrow defeat by a strong Chippenham side and despite being without club skipper Lewis Paget, managed to put together a solid squad with a mixture of 1st, 2nd team and Academy players all making up the side.

Devizes started well and edged in front through a try from mercurial prop Kieran Hiscock, before Melksham pegged the scores back through a well worked try.  There was then a long stoppage for Wiltshire Air Ambulance to arrive with Will Hine suffering a bad ankle injury.  The Air Ambulance arrived quickly and patched Will up and took him to hospital.  As play resumed, Devizes played some good rugby with some neat handling and offloading skills on display.  The score was added to by young fly half Matt Tinker before Oscar Conroy-Purbrick dotted down after some good support play.

Devizes continued to do well with Gus O'Connor doing particularly well in the backline and as the second half edged on a further two scores from Sam Holloway and Matt Strong. Melksham got  a deserved second score of the game to end proceedings. 

Full time result was Devizes 31 v 10 Melksham.

It was great to see so many people (socially distancing of course) back up at the club and enjoying the rugby on display.  All the best to Will on his recovery; apparently he's not available next week, which is a shame.  Thanks to Melksham for a hard battle and we look forward to seeing you next week at your place,

Thanks to Gail Foster for the match photography.