ROYAL Wootton Bassett coach Alan Low praised the best forward display since he had been at the club as they opened their season with a hard fought 17-10 victory at Marlborough.

Bassett were forced to defend for long periods – without the hosts threatening the line – but eventually a neat move saw the Marlborough centre Waisale Navunidakua cross the line in the corner for a 5-0 lead.

The second half was a mirror image of the first with the conditions now in Bassett’s favour. Within two minutes of the restart a fine individual try from number eight Bruce Elliot, who peeled off the back of a lineout and forced his way over, allowed skipper Dave Hogg to add the extras and put his side ahead.

With the hosts having two players sent to the sin bin, scrum half Tom Fieldsend drew the Marlborough defence and allowed young full-back Scott Douglas to go over in the corner.

It now looked as though Bassett might surge ahead, but a superb breakout allowed Marlborough’s James Farrell to reduce the deficit to 12-10.

Bassett stepped up again and an almost identical try with Fieldsend supplying Douglas once more sealed victory for Bassett.

“The boys did really well,” said Low. “The forward display from the pack was probably the best I have seen since I have been at the club, they really fronted up.

“Marlborough, if I’m honest, were stronger than what we expected and they managed to come out the blocks hard with the advantage of the hill.

“We started reasonably well and knew we were going to be under the cosh for the first 20 minutes of the game.

“We worked our way up the field and earned some penalties and we didn’t take the points or missed touch and put ourselves under a little bit of pressure.

“Just by applying the pressure it would have taken the wind out of their sails a bit, being their first home game in the new league.

“Second half we were a different side and we knew we wanted to get the pace into our game, which we managed to do.

“We know we have got a young side and the guys have got to learn how to play and play together.”