DEVIZES claimed their first Dorset & Wilts merit Table win in cold and windy conditions.
The young Saddlbacks played against the elements in the first half and, after sustained pressure on the visitors’ line, George Duffield scored with great support play from the pack.
Will Thomas stepped up from full-back to slot over a penalty to make it 8-0 after 20 minutes. and the visitors seemed to implode, with tempers flaring.
Stothert’s hooker was red-carded for dissent and abusive behaviour towards referee Mike Bland, before their number eight was sin-binned for persistent infringement.
Shortly after half time the same Stothert player committed the same offence and they were down to 13 players once more.
Devizes though, failed to take advantage, Dan Burkham and George Patrick scoring for the visitors, Toby Patrick converting once as Stothert grabbed a shock lead.
However, the Bath side began to lose momentum and Devizes piled on the pressure, prop Nathan Seymour being held up on the line and Laurence Jackson chasing a chip over the defence from captain Joe Burrows.
The breakthrough came after the pack, who were camped on the visitors try-line, released replacement prop Luke Mullis to go over.
Substitute Hugo O’Neill, who came on for Toby Haper, came close, being held up on the line.
But in the final minute, centre Ollie Emmitt steamed though the flagging Stothert line to score.
MORE RUGBY IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD
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