A LATE penalty sank Devizes in their home Southern Counties South clash on Saturday 1 December.

The visitors took the lead after breaking from a line-out melee as the Devizes players stood still, believing the ball carrier had put a foot into touch. The conversion gave Frome a seven-point lead, but Devizes hit back before the break when Tim Alchin strode over from a maul to level the scores.

Moments after the break Richard Slater accelerated beyond the visiting defence following a rare Devizes handling phase to give the home side the lead for the first time. But Devizes failed to gain any regular set-piece ball and were penned back in their own half for long periods of the second half. Despite some dogged defending from Tim Alchin and Charlie Rudler, Frome reduced the margin to three points with another penalty.

Devizes were left to rue two missed penalties in quick succession when Frome were awarded a late penalty 45 metres out following an injudicious remark from a home player.

The ball sailed between the posts from the long kick to deny Devizes and give the visitors maximum points.