Calne set off to Devizes for their first outing of the season and set out their intentions in a blistering opening twenty minutes. The Anchor Road outfit, comprising of a mix of regular first xv players and a good number of second team players, bossed the contact area ensuring a constant stream of very quick ball to the backs. The plentiful supply of ball was greatly received and was used to maximum effect. The damage inflicted up on Devizes, who found themselves 20 points down only twenty minutes in to the game, effectively sealed the result early in the game.

The second quarter was quieter as Devizes managed to slow down the steady flow of ball that Calne were winning. Undeterred Calne kept their heads down and grafted away and were soon rewarded with a Pete McGarry try. The tall, rangy second row set of from the twenty five yard line with two supporting runners in tow, his dummy pass dumbfounded the defense and his crowd pleasing dive silenced the opposition, who were fast becoming frustrated and unable to deal with Calne’s complete game.

Devizes managed to stem the flow of Calne’s game as they upped the physicality. The quality of rugby dropped dramatically during this third quarter as certain players were targeted and were very lucky not to leave the field without injury. Calne rode the storm out and continued to play good rugby despite the home team’s tactics at the breakdown and the referee’s relaxed interpretation of the rules in this area.

However, class won out and Calne finished with a flurry of more quality rugby. Despite only being allowed small amounts of space from the referee and the very quick off the mark defense, the Calne cut through the home defense on two more occasions to the joy of Coach John Crozier, who was clearly ecstatic. He was quick to praise the progress the players had made since the same encounter last season, whilst sidelined captain, Andrew Donegan, was impressed by performances from stand in fly half Neil Young, vice captain Neil Watkins (1t), Lewis Bakers (1t) and youngster Seth Griffin (1t). The latter’s try’s were added to by Max Whiston, Ian Smart and McGarry’s spectacular effort.

Final Score. Devizes II 5 Calne 34

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