BRADFORD on Avon were knocked off the top of the Dorset & Wilts One North table as they lost their first match of the season 12-10 at promotion rivals Warminster.

The home side took the lead when James Pinnell crossed for a try midway through the first half and Jason Sprangle added the extras.

But Bradford were back on level terms when left wing Vaughan Conybear touched down and Josh Felix landed the conversion.

A Felix penalty in the second half took the visitors into the lead for the first time, but decisive moment arrived with Bradford on the attack in the final 10 minutes.

With an overlap looming, Bradford instead saw the ball intercepted, from which Warminster set up the position to allow Ross William to touch down for the winning try.

Bradford coach Dave George said: "It was a cracking match and both defences were pretty solid.

"Both sides were pretty evenly matched and although we lost, we were still pleased to take a bonus point away from it.''

Pewsey Vale's pace and bruising defence proved the difference as they clinched a 36-20 triumph at Melksham.

A minute’s silence in memory of Melksham's Paul McQuillan, who died after a second-team match last month, was held before kick-off with McQuillan's immediate family present and daughters carrying on the match ball to start the game.

Melksham opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour as scrum-half Callum Hurn landed a penalty but Pewsey hit back immediately as prop James Campbell gathered the ball from the restart.

A resulting scrum produced quick ball to centre Ben Bowman who burst through before slipping a pass fellow centre James Haynes who dotted down between the posts and added the extras.

Vale then added two more tries to take the lead out to 21-3, hooker Jeremy Horton going on an unstoppable drive before number eight Olly Spence sprinted in unopposed from halfway, both scores being converted by Haynes.

Melksham rallied and worked their way into the visitors’ territory and from five metres out, captain Charlie Radcliffe scored from the back of the scrum, Hurn adding the extras.

A penalty apiece from Hurn and Haynes followed in the third quarter but with 15 minutes remaining, wing Tom Flippance went over in the corner.

The home side came back as Callum Gillard cut a perfect line at pace around the scrum to receive a pass and score, Hurn adding the extras.

But from the restart Pewsey drove forward, Campbell crashing over the line from 20 metres out and Haynes added the extra points

Vale coach Jamie Balls said: "For a side that felt it under-performed and still to come away with a bonus-point win away from home is a side that is on the up.

"Next week’s game (at home to Warminster) is a crucial one in our development.''