MELKSHAM launched an excellent second-half comeback from an 8-0 deficit to clinch victory on the road.

Both teams competed well in the first half with good passages of play offset against handling errors but Fairford broke through to score out wide.

A vigorous half-time talk from skipper Callum Hurn brought a purposeful start to the second half but a penalty increased Fairford’s lead.

Melksham began to increase their pressure with a well-worked ball out to winger Callum Gillard, who beat his man on the outside to get the visitors on the scoreboard.

Matt Glover, making an impact off the bench, took advantage of quick ball, his pace and power beating his opposition to give the visitors the lead, as Simon Foster slotting the conversion.

Then quick ball out from scrum-half Hurn put prop Matt Plumb in out wide for the visitors’ third, Foster adding the difficult conversion.

Fairford camped on the Melksham line towards the end of the game but the visitors’ defence, with Phil Stone man of the match, held firm.