THERE was plenty to cheer on Saturday as Wootton Bassett put newly promoted Bicester to the sword as they romped home to a 60-0 win.

Bassett opened their Southern Counties North campaign at Ballard’s Ash Sports Ground with a resounding win and sent out a strong early message to the rest of the league.

The home fans were treated to a feast of tries on the pitch which was washed down with a beer festival that was taking place alongside the game.

Nine tries were scored as Bassett completed the bonus point victory including a double from prop forward Gary Williamson and Tom Sharpe.

“It was not the start we would have liked, we lost our fly half last week, so it was a bit disrupted,” said head coach Alan Low. “Tom Sharpe stepped up and did a really good job for us.

“From my point of view I just wanted us to lay a foundation for the rest of the season.

“It is a big week next weekend against the Drifters and I hope to push on from this result.”

There were only six minutes on the clock when Liam Rowe found himself open out on the left wing and touched down to give Bassett the lead.

Gary Williams was able to bundle his way over the line for the second try of the game and he got his second of the game after 20 minutes to open up a comfortable lead.

Bassett then scored from a rolling maul before Bicester were reduced to ten men for ten minutes.

Tom Gallimore capitalised on the man advantage and scored under the posts to give Bassett a 29-0 half-time lead.

Second half tries from Sharpe (two), Gavin Ougan, Hamish Forbes-Keith and David Hogg completed a good all-round performance by the Bassett team and made the beer taste that bit sweeter.