YOUNG players’ mental strength will be tested this weekend when unbeaten Royal Wootton Bassett face winless Windsor away from home in South West One East, according to head coach Alan Low.

Victory margins of 15, 24 and 27 points have been recorded by Bassett’s in-form squad this season, and followers of the local rugby scene certainly would not be taken by surprise if Low’s men were to register another convincing win in Berkshire this weekend.

Windsor, meanwhile, were thumped 60-15 by Banbury on the opening day of the season, before Oxford Harlequins and Buckingham added to the club’s woes with zero league points secured from their opening three games.

Life has certainly been tough for Windsor since their promotion from Southern Counties North last season.

But Low has called on his younger players, in particular, to focus ahead of kick-off, stating that reading into the table too much will undoubtedly lead to a complacent approach.

Low said: “It’s a mental test, and it’s where we’ve slipped up in the past.

“Younger players look at the league table and can presume Saturday’s game will be easier. But you’ve only got to look at results in the league to see that scores are all over the place.

“Windsor will want to make amends – we’ll have to be on our guard and control what we can control.”

Windsor’s new coaching set-up means Bassett enter the unknown this weekend, particularly given both teams haven’t met for more than 30 months.

It was Bassett that came out on top on that occasion in March 2017, with the visitors recording a 29-19 victory.

But competing beyond the sounding of the half-time whistle is a key element of Bassett’s game plan that must be executed.

Low said: “Most teams we’ve seen this season are competing up until half-time. It’s in the second half where games are being won.

“So we need to prove we’re making progression, because last season we struggled against weaker teams. Our only loss up until December last season was against Salisbury – a game we expected to win.

“We’ve got to make sure our mentality is in the right place, regardless of the team we’re facing.

“I hope to see a better performance this weekend compared to what I saw against teams at the bottom end of the table last season.”

In Southern Counties South, Swindon will be looking to add to their win at home to North Dorset last weekend when travelling to Swanage & Wareham, while Swindon College Old Boys travel to out-of-form North Dorset.

Supermarine are at home to Trowbridge 3rd in Dorset & Wilts Two North and will go looking for a second successive victory.