LEADERS Westbury slipped to a surprise 27-9 defeat against North Dorset in last Saturday's Dorset & Wilts Division 1 encounter.

Westbury took an early lead with two penalties from Phil Stockley.

North Dorset immediately replied with a converted try, to take the lead 30 minutes into the game.

But in injury time, Stockley slotted another penalty for a 9-7 interval lead.

Westbury came out in the second half fired up but within five minutes of the restart, two Westbury players and a North Dorset player were sin binned.

North Dorset then continued to put pressure on Westbury, steadily increasing their lead as the half progressed.

Luckily for Westbury, title rivals Calne also lost out and with Westbury just ahead on points difference this makes for a nailbiting finish.

Westbury face Swindon College Old Boys in the semi-final of the Dorset & Wilts 1st XV Vase this weekend, at their own Leighton Sports ground.

Westbury 2nd, meanwhile, ran out 59-5 winners over their Stothert & Pitt counterparts in a Bath Combination 2nd XV Merit Table match

From a scrum, Westbury No 8 Stuart Fellows, powered over to draw first blood.

Flanker Gareth Done picked up an injury early on and was replaced by Alex Turner, but the home side continued to dominate with prop Paul Adams and veteran lock Phillip Osbourne going over for a 19-0 half-time lead.

Scrum-half Sam Gooding opened their second-half account, the other tries coming from full-back Guy Barrett, who went on to grab a second successive hat-trick, outside centre Lee Adams and young back row Turner.

Michael Balchin converted seven of the nine tries.

Stothert & Pitt valiantly stayed in the game, scoring a try from a lineout close in.