A LAST-GASP penalty try salvaged a point for below-par Wootton Bassett side after looking second best for much of a tough local derby at Swindon Old Boys on Saturday 1 December.

Bassett made a flying start and were seven points up within the first minute. The home side kicked off, but the kick failed to go 10 metres, giving Bassett the scrum on halfway.

Scrum-half Mike Weeks went blind and passed to full back Simon Cady who fed Craig Smith. The winger rounded his opposite number to score in the corner and fly half and stand-in captain Neil James converted from the touchline.

The first confrontation of a fiery encounter came moments after the restart, when Bassett's Kiwi flanker Rob May was yellow carded after being caught throwing a punch.

College took full advantage and soon scored a well-worked converted try. The College forwards were then warned on a number of occasions for stamping, but took the lead following fine work by their threequarters.

The Cornish referee had to separate Bassett's Sean Millwaters and College's Brown, with the result being both players sent to the sin bin for ten minutes. The home side scored their third try moments before the interval to move ten points in front.

College strengthened their lead early in the second period when, from a five metre scrum, number eight Bryant broke and fed his winger to score an unconverted try in the corner.

Bassett began their comeback with a penalty which fly half James converted.

Soon after centre Millwaters chipped the ball over the home defence for winger Smith to collect and score his second try, leaving Bassett seven points behind with ten minutes to go.

The closing stages saw Bassett force a series of penalties in the home 22 and they were finally awarded a penalty try after College collapsed a Bassett maul. James stepped up and converted to level the scores and complete a fine Bassett recovery.