DEVIZES rattled up a big 41-5 win at Westbury to get their Southern Counties South campaign off to a flyer.
Without ever appearing to dominate the game, Devizes built up a substantial lead by half-time and, except for a I5-minute period after half-time, never relaxed their overall control.
The game was a personal triumph for scrum-half Tom Collins, whose spell in the Southern Hemisphere has greatly added to his physical presence and confidence.
Devizes scored the first try when centre Gareth Davies went through a gap to set up a ruck from which Collins kicked ahead, recovered possession and scored under the posts.
Sean Sullivan converted before Andy Webb went over in the corner for the second.
Another breakout by Gareth Davies saw Devizes lay siege to the Westbury line, eventually giving lock Gavin Curnow the chance to stroll over.
Skipper James Gaiger's marauding tactics paid off when he dispossessed a defender in the tackle to touch down and extend the lead to 22-0 at half-time.
Inexplicably, the Saddlebacks went off the boil and Westbury took advantage to pull a try back.
But Devizes immediately regrouped and Jon Anderson announced his presence as a wing replacement, passing to Gaiger whose try sparked revival.
Sullivan's conversion eased Devizes into the comfort zone and Collins capped a great display by darting through a gap to score.
A good phase of interpassing set up another break from centre Davies, fly-half Sean Sullivan finishing it to round off the triumph.
n SWINDON College Old Boys also got their Dorset & Wilts One campaign off to a super start with a 54-11 win over promoted Sherborne.
The winners of Dorset & Wilts Two last season were confident of victory but were blown away by a hat-trick of tries from College centre Johan Cloete.
Skipper Greig O'Brien also scored, as did Simon Burdell, Scott Sutton, Ben Green and Tony Flower, Cloete adding four conversions and a penalty.
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