DEVIZES failed to deal with the blustery conditions as well as their opponents and paid the penalty with a heavy defeat in this friendly.

But there were still some good individual performances from the Devizes players.

Salisbury, who are from the league above Devizes, had the better of the first half and built up a big lead.

Devizes went into the game with a few enforced changes after Taff Bayliss and Jason Giddings pulled out through illness.

In the first half Devizes had the strong wind at their backs but they just did not perform to their potential. Salisbury put in an excellent display and retained possession well among their forwards.

Devizes spent the majority of the first half making tackles and trying to regain possession but Salisbury were in control and led 15-0 at half-time.

The visitors started the second half with some apprehension at the prospect of playing into the wind.

Salisbury started strongly and made Devizes pay for errors of their own making to score two more soft tries.

A big score looked on the cards but to their credit Devizes picked themselves up and regained some pride.

The final 35 minutes were an even encounter as Devizes showed what they are really capable of.

Solid Devizes performances came from Alex Bennett at full back and youth section product Julian Taylor.

Devizes are next in action on Saturday when they face Melksham in the Bath Combination Cup Plate quarter-finals.

The game was originally at Devizes but has now been switched to Melksham, starting at 3pm.