ALAN Low has refused to look beyond his side’s next Southern Counties South assignment in 10 days time despite the massive fillip given to Royal Wootton Bassett’s title bid on Saturday.

The Ballards Ash men secured a maximum five-point haul from their 26-0 home derby win over Devizes while events in north Dorset - where Sherborne kicked a last-minute drop goal to down second-placed Midsomer Norton 30-29 - handed a four-point advantage at the top of the table to the Wiltshire outfit.

Three of Bassett’s final four league matches are against the bottom three in the standings, starting with Dorchester on Saturday week, but while Low acknowledges the strength of his side’s position, he is determined that they will not lose focus on the home straight.

“We’ve given ourselves a shot but we will just concentrate on every week and not take our eyes off the following week’s game,’’ said the head coach.

“You look at (third-from-bottom) Frome’s result at (mid-table) Marlborough, which was very close, and it shows that everybody has the ability to beat everybody in the division.

“We just have to work on getting the preparation right each week and get the bodies right.

"At this time of the season, you get a few boys with long-term niggles, so it’s about managing that.’’ Low admitted his side’s display against Devizes was probably the best at home of the year, in front of the club’s vice presidents, but could even have been better.

The home side lost the services of backs Nick Parker and Tim Timani to broken bones in their arms, but centre Tim Gallimore’s converted try in first-half injury time finally broke the Saddlebacks’ resistance.

As the visitors tired in the second period, the hosts added further tries through prop Gary Williamson and a brace from young winger Elye Darragh, skipper David Hogg adding two conversions.

Low, whose side have a break from league action this weekend, admitted: “It was a very good performance although when we came off, we felt we had probably left a few points out on the field. It could have been even better.’’ Bassett’s second and third strings also won and placed highly in their respective Dorset & Wilts One and Three North divisions after wins at the weekend, and Low reckons that has spurred on the first team.

“The second team are probably the reason the firsts are having such a strong year,’’ he added. “We set our goals for the seconds and thirds and they are smashing those goals out of the park.

“They’ve laid a strong foundation for the senior section.’’