WARMINSTER slipped to their first Dorset & Wilts One North defeat of the campaign as they were edged out 51-40 by hosts Royal Wootton Bassett 2nd in a thrilling contest.

The amber and blues welcomed loosehead prop Olly Hares into the starting line-up for the first time this season, with Luke Windsor and 18 year old Dom Davey in the back row stepping up from the second team.

A sluggish start handed Bassett an early score but Warminster drew level when the scrum nudged back their hosts and centre Laisiasa Vinakadina sent wing Tom Evans over in the corner.

Bassett regained the lead with a converted try but Warminster’s second try arrived via hooker Alex Jenkins after some good interplay, Jason Sprangle adding the extras.

Bassett again took the lead with their third try before flanker Windsor hit back with another try from close quarters and Sprangle converted.

A fourth home try followed before the break and Warminster lost Davey to the sin-bin as they headed in trailing 27-19.

In the second half Warminster shot out of the blocks stunning the home side with a three-try blitz.

Evans grabbed his second, racing down the left wing after a well-timed pass from fly-half Gavin Pratt.

The second came after Pratt broke through the defensive line and the ball was recycled out to centre Laisiasa Vinakadina who took advantage of the gap in the defence to glide over.

Jenkins adding his second of the game and Sprangle's three conversions took Warminster out to a 40-27 advantage.

However, Bassett then responded in kind, with four tries and 24 unanswered points in the final quarter to snatch the game.

Melksham wrapped up a 22-12 triumph at Sutton Benger in what was their third away match on the trot.

The visitors were on the scoreboard after a few minutes with a well-struck penalty from scrum-half Callum Hurn and continued to dominate as fly-half Rory Mulgrew collected the ball and hacked on to score, Hurn adding the extras.

With centres Connor Randall and Callum Gillard defending well, Melksham regained territory and continued pressure from the pack on the line resulted in Alex Cox powering over.

In the closing minutes of the half Jacek Gronkowski timed his run perfectly to intercept a pass and run in to score from 50 metres, Hurn's conversion taking the score out to 22-0.

The tables were turned in the second half as fly-half Ollie Maher finished off a strong run with a try.

Thomas Pinninger then made it three tries from three games, diving over a pile of bodies at a ruck, with Maher's conversion decreasing the gap further.