MELKSHAM kept in touch with the leaders in Dorset & Wilts One North as Devizes 2nd were ruthlessly put to the sword.

Having struck deep into Devizes territory, hooker Aaron Brailey received a short pass from the breakdown to power over and start the scoring.

Shortly after Matt Glover made a break from the halfway line, to run all the way in, Gareth Evans adding the extras, although the bright start was dulled by a rib injury to Scott Davis, who was forced to leave the field.

The home team regathered and James Reeves stepped his way in to score from the visitors 22, Evans with the extras.

The bonus-point try was secured by Josh Partridge touching down from a pushover try before Devizes got on the board with a converted try.

The home team responded with two more scores as Charlie Radcliffe, following up from a break by Callum Gillard and scrum-half Callum Hurn touched down, Evans converting both to reach the 40-point mark.

It was more of the same in the second half, Rob Escott driving his way over shortly followed by Reeves for his second.

Glover added another two for his hat-trick and Partridge for his second and Matt Plumb closed the scoring with a long distance run down the wing.

Skipper Hurn said: “We had control all the way through and dominated Devizes.

"We were on our game. To their credit, Devizes didn’t give up but we were too strong for them. Six tries in each half showed our clinical edge.”