BRADFORD on Avon’s latest experience of a team from Royal Wootton Bassett proved a great deal more pleasurable than the previous one as the Ashley Lane men kicked off their season with a thumping 59-17 success over the visitors’ second string on Saturday.

The home side ran in nine tries to get their bid to return to Southern Counties South level, following demotion at the end of last season, off to the perfect start.

Dave George’s men, who now play in Dorset and Wilts One North, were on the receiving end of a 55-5 thumping from Bassett’s first team, who were eventually crowned Southern Counties South champions in April, and the Bradford head coach admitted he was unsure what to expect before the weekend meeting.

“Having played their first team last season, we thought they might be quite strong and the game started quite tight,’’ said George.

“The teams were trading scores but then we put our foot down. The boys stuck with the structure that we’ve been doing all through pre-season and they showed they believe in it.’’ Fly-half Sam Jones delivered a man of the match performance, scoring a try and controlling affairs with superb game management.

Centre Josh Felix crossed the whitewash four times and booted three conversions while there were also two tries and four conversions for full-back Alex Burns and a brace of scores from centre Lewis Somerville.

Corsham also got their season off to a flying start with a 53-7 victory at Devizes 2nd.

There was a brace of tries from Lewis Jones, while Ed Minty, Harry Beazer, Ben Russell, Robbie Vennard, Alex Bilton and Taylor Ball also scored with 13 points coming from the boot of Dan Goldsworthy.

Warminster, who have moved across from Dorset & Wilts One South, claimed the bragging rights from their local skirmish with Melksham, who were led by new captain Charlie Ratcliffe.

The home side drew first blood with a converted try and Melksham found it hard to create any consistency until scrum-half Callum Hurn, attacking from outside the 22, broke through defenders to score.

Melksham forced their way up field for Nick Suter to break away from the rear of the pack to put the visitors temporarily ahead but Warminster rallied just before half-time, carrying over from a penalty five metres out to make it 14-10.

The pace of the game continued to fracture in the second half because of stoppages but the hosts struck again with a converted try followed by a penalty to seal victory.

For Warminster, number eight Dean Priestman, prop Dan Woods and scrum-half Gavin Pratt scored tries, who added three conversions and a penalty