MELKSHAM remain in the hunt to finish as runners-up in Dorset & Wilts 1 North after an impressive 36-0 win at home to Colerne.

With several players away with the minis’ tour, Melksham were forced to field a re-shaped team.

From the first whistle the home team took the game to their opponents, building pressure but unable to make the most of it until a short inside pass found Carl Wilkins to go in out wide.

Almost from the restart, Melksham attacked again through pacey full-back Rob Thorne, who received the ball on halfway and outran the visiting defenders to score, with skipper Callum Hurn adding the extras.

A powerful drive generated by the forwards then brought flanker Charlie Radcliffe into the frame and he powered over for another converted try before the break.

The second half started just as the first had done, with Wilkins getting his second touchdown. The visitors rallied and stemmed the flow until Thorne got a second of his own with another scorching run, with Hurn slotting the extras.

The visitors defended every point but the home team were too strong and Alex Bound used his strength and pace to score Melksham’s final try.

Melskam skipper Hurn said: “The lads stepped up to keep the momentum going, some playing out of position and in their first game for some time.

“It was to their credit that we shut a very determined Colerne team out.”