Powergen Intermediate Cup - On paper this looks just another defeat for Devizes, but in truth the Saddlebacks showed signs they may be turning the corner.

After losing their first five league games, three of them by eight points or less, Devizes secured this second round Cup tie with their only win of the season so far against Minety, and the competition may yet provide a springboard for the remainder of the campaign.

Henley lie equal second in Southern Counties North, a league of equivalent standard to that of Devizes, and the first half was accordingly even.

The Saddlebacks were holding on to possession much more successfully with vigorous clean out at the breakdown, but handling errors in the slippery conditions didn't enable them to capitalise on early opportunities.

Henley's scrum dominance, mainly due to their significant weight advantage over slight Saddleback second rowers Stuart Walmsley and Mike Walsh, began to tell late in the half, and they won plenty of ball against the feed.

It was from a relatively innocuous backline move that the home side scored, classy full back Sam Taylor coming into the line, breaking a first up tackle, and touching down to end the first 40 minutes.

Despite much positive talk at the break, Devizes lost the plot and the match in a 15 minute period after half time.

The defence went to pieces temporarily and Henley ran in two tries through winger Kaz Mslohi and number eight Will Richards, both converted by scrum half Chris Ward, who also nudged over a penalty.

Despite their problems in the scrum, Walsh and Walmsley were making up for it at line-out time, and the regular ball from that particular set-piece, as well as a fair bit of fighting spirit, allowed Devizes to come back.

Intelligent kicking from fly-half Gareth Jones and Tom Collins, shifted from scrum half to the centres for the match, consolidated field position and also got their team out of trouble a few times.

Scrum half Dave O'Sullivan also troubled Henley with box kicks from around the ruck and when the Devizes forwards began to pick and drive, mainly through flanker Tim Alchin, hooker Nathan Murdoch and prop Charlie Rudler, their counterparts had no answer.

But it was in the backs Henley had it over the visitors, and after a knee injury to full back Ryan Wallbridge caused positional changes, Henley scored against the run of play through right winger Luke Rosser.

The departure of prop Rob Edwards, who played on gamely after breaking a finger in the first minute, made way for hooker Chris Belli and substantial second row Dan Leighfield.

It was through their drive from a line-out that Devizes rolled over for their consolation score, a try to Alchin, converted by Collins.

Devizes skipper Tom Reed, who was forced to play after chipping a bone in his finger at Sherborne last week due to the amount of unavailabilities and injuries in the club, was understandably upbeat after the match, which was much closer than the final score suggested.

"The team is starting to unite, there wasn't too much between those two teams and the boys showed a huge amount of pride,'' he said.

"Basically I think it was just a very experienced Henley backline which showed their class against our less experienced guys.''

The performances of a few of the forwards in particular and yet more injury will cause Reed and his selection committee a few headaches for the league derby against Trowbridge on Saturday.

Centre/fly-half James Pople is likely to return to from a shoulder injury and wingers Andrew Webb and Oliver Perryman may fill some holes in the backs.

Confidence has been the most vital ingredient missing from the play of the Saddlebacks this season, but if there is such a thing, Reed agreed Saturday was probably a self esteem boosting loss.

"The back row inparticular won a lot of ball on Saturday, and our forwards dominated a much larger opposition.

"Our confidence level has been down, but I think the performance will help people to have more belief in themselves.

"I expect us to go up from here, and start by overthrowing Trowbridge on Saturday,'' he said.

Devizes 2nd 22 Andover 2nd 3

A man of the match performance from hooker Simon Hall led Devizes to victory on a weekend they were only able to honour two of four scheduled fixtures due to injury and unavailability.

Skipper Andy Webb led a revamped 2nd XV to a hard earned but well deserved victory as a young back division was carefully nursed by the veteran half pairing of Mike Litchwark and John Bathe.

Andover took a three point lead with a penalty kick but Webb levelled with one of his own on 29 minutes.

On the stroke of half time Devizes Matt Radbourne scored in the corner.

After the break centre Steve Reynolds latched onto a dropped Andover ball on the half way line hoofed it twice downfield to win the race for a touchdown.

To finish, Chris Maundrell's 4O metre swerving run was continued by the backs and a short pass from Bathe to Webb, entering the line at speed, saw him pulled down just short. Devizes built up momentum from there, winning a line-out and driving over for a try claimed by Hall.