Royal Wootton Bassett had to come from behind to claim a bonus point 43-14 win over Gordano. 

Bassett hosted Bristol club Gordano for the first time in a generation. With Bassett already champions the game looked to be a simple crowning ceremony. Gordano, who have improved after an appalling start, had other ideas.

Gordano immediately went on the attack and a series of attacks near the Bassett line saw the Gordano forwards drive over. The conversion was slotted and Gordano had a shock 7-0 lead.

This stung Bassett into action and a good period was rewarded in the twelfth minute. An attacking 22-metre scrum saw Josh McCafferty go on a trademark blindside run and despite several attempts to halt him, he powered over to level the scores.

The hosts were determined to take the game to Bassett as they played with the wind and were camped in the Bassett 22 before a series of phases eventually saw the Gordano forwards go over in the corner to reclaim the lead.

An attacking move from Bassett saw the ball fed wide to winger Henry Toomer who went around the Gordano defence to score, but the conversion went wide.

A change of tactics saw Sam Baker put a lovely grubber kick through the defence and Troy Cusack raced ahead and touched down for a 17-14 for the champions at the break.

Bassett had been made to work hard in the first period to go in with the lead but now had the wind on their side and within two minutes the ball was shifted left and McCafferty forced his way over in the corner for the bonus point try.

Gordano were now struggling to get out of their half and a close-range lineout ended with Joe Pettit going over in the corner.

Further Bassett pressure led to several attacking scrums and from one the ball was swung wide, the attack was held up until Oli Baycroft arrived and drove over.

As the game entered its final minutes a neat break by replacement back Ethan Stock saw the ball flipped up to Sean Marsden who palmed the ball on to Toomer who had the simplest of tasks to score under the posts. Floyd converted to complete a 43-14 victory.

With the league programme now complete attention turns to the Papa John’s Community Cup with Bassett travelling to meet a Winchester side they have only played once back in the 1980s.