HONEST endeavour, good humour and elusive running characterised a game in which Devizes deservedly ran out winners.

Stow got into their stride straightway capitalising on a Devizes handling error to win a scrum and construct five phases of play before they were stopped near the Devizes line.

Devizes regained possession and counter-attacked setting up several rucks in Stow territory but a careless infringement wasted the advantage.

A long kick out of defence by the Stow flyhalf exposed indecision in Devizes cover defence. Following up at speed the Stow winger booted on and won the race for the touchdown. The conversion put Stow seven points ahead against the run of play.

A period of ping pong kicking carried play from end to end as both teams tried to gain position.

Eventually Devizes won a line out ball on the Stow 22 and scrum half Andy Thompson set the line in motion. Inside centre Peter Barter accelerated through a gap.

When he was tackled the ball was picked up by Tom Gould and carried over for Devizes' first try. A well-judged conversion by Andy Thompson sailed between the posts for Devizes to draw level.

Handling errors and wayward kicks meant neither side were able to exert sustained pressure.

Winger Paul Young caught a defensive Stow kick and linked with his threequarters. Gould, instead of transferring the ball, stepped inside the first line of defence and then sidestepped three defenders to score. The conversion was missed and Devizes went in with an 11-7 lead at half time.

Devizes caught Stow's kick off, made ground and forced two scrums in the Stow half. From the second, fly half Steve Merrett offloaded the ball to Young who squeezed over in the corner, stretching Devizes' lead to 15-7.

Thompson kicked a penalty to make it 18-7 and Gould completed his hat-trick of tries to ease Devizes into a 23-7 lead.

Just before the final whistle a speculative Stow kick and awkward bounce caught out the Devizes cover again for a Stow consolation try.

Adventurous end of season Tours are planned for both Senior and Junior sections of Devizes Rugby Club .

The U14s are heading for the Toulouse area in France where they will play three clubs. The U15s will travel to Cornwall for three games.

More than 35 senior players will be giving a taste of Devizes to emerging clubs in Estonia. This eastern European tour comes after a successful tour to Prague.