BRADFORD on Avon head coach Dave George was delighted with his team after they completed a 29-22 win over Avonvale to put them within touching distance of the Dorset & Wilts One North title.

George’s troops need one more point to secure the league crown and will look to attain that on Saturday when they host Trowbridge 2nd.

Rufus Faulkner-Lee crossed the line at the end of the first half to get Bradford moving, while Josh Felix was on hand to convert as the first half ended 7-7.

After some stern words at the halfway stage, Dan Bright, Lewis Summerville and Felix all registered tries, while Felix converted a further two times in addition to a penalty.

“It was 7-7 at half time. We had a lot of pressure and possession, but struggled to deal with the breakdown really,” said George.

“They just got penalty after penalty and then we hit back with a try right at the end of the half. The boys got a bit of a rocket at half-time and we pulled away after we upped the tempo.

“Then we were at 29-10 up and in the final 10 minutes they got a few lucky bounces, but it was too little too late really.

“The pitch was quite heavy. Watching it from the side you couldn’t really tell but it was heavy on the legs.

“It was hard to get any free-flowing rugby, which is the way we like to play, but once we upped the tempo we were away.”

Now Trowbridge 2nd stand between Bradford and the Dorset & Wilts One North title and the head coach says the league will be theirs if his troops have the desire to win.

“All going well, I would be delighted. We have a couple out for the weekend but we lost our captain before Saturday, but hopefully he will be back this week as week,” he added.

“It’s just down to the boys and their willingness to win now. If they want it they will get it, it is as simple as that.

“Our slip-up last week wasn’t really a slip up, we played a team that we wouldn’t really be playing – we basically played the army.

“If they (Warminster) put that team out every week they would be a couple of leagues higher than what they are at the moment.”

Melksham clinched a 20-15 success over Minety in their final home clash of the season.

Minety took the lead in the 10th minute from a Garin Garland penalty after Melksham were caught offside and he extended the lead with a further kick three minutes later.

Garland kicked his third penalty after centre Jack Howse had broken through and been brought to ground inches from the line and the village side held out until the 34th minute when a fluent move along the line saw Melksham’s winger Luke Cador cross for the game’s first try.

Garland’s injury-time penalty in front of the posts saw Minety enter the break 12-5 up.

Melksham started the 2nd half strongly and their efforts were rewarded with a try in the 42nd minute, as a cross-field move and a deft cutback by hooker Brad Wilkins opened up the defence for the second try.

Minety’s influential captain Tom Claxton was forced off with a nasty-looking ankle injury and then Melksham were awarded a try through centre Kieran Jenkins.

The hosts' fourth try came in the 73rd minute through centre Callum Gillard but Garland slotted a fifth penalty to keep his men in it until the end.