Royal Wootton Bassett got back to winning ways in emphatic style as they defeated Ivybridge 78-8 to maintain their perfect home start to the season.

Ivybridge kicked off in perfect conditions for running rugby despite the recent heavy rain which had had remarkably little effect on the Ballard’s Ash pitch.

Ivybridge had the best of the early stages but in truth that was the only time in the match where they had the upper hand.

A fifth-minute high tackle saw Bassett kick to the corner from the penalty. The ball was won and flung to the opposite corner where teenage winger Sitiveni Qalo was on hand to race over. The conversion was missed from wide out but Bassett had an early 5-0 lead.

Midway through the half Bassett were awarded a close-range penalty. The quick thinking of Rhys Floyd saw the tap and go and the pass to Jack Daynes for him to dive over.

Ivybridge immediately struck back with a penalty but with five minutes of the half remaining Bassett won a shortened lineout and fly half and skipper Sam Baker delivered a neat pass to Daynes for his second of the game.

Just before the interval, another fast attack saw Charlie Brook create the space to break the line and score under the posts for the bonus point try. A further Floyd conversion saw Bassett unexpectedly lead 26-3 at the interval to the delight of the home supporters.

If Ivybridge thought the first half had been bad things were only going to get a whole lot worse for the South Devon side. Bassett buoyed by the confident first half really began to put the visitors to the sword as within a minute veteran replacement Sam Robinson powered over.

The floodgates now opened and Ivybridge were given the runaround. Ollie Baycroft and Henry Toomer added tries converted by Floyd and then Qalo went over for his second which went unconverted.

Ivybridge pulled a try back to reduce the deficit to 52-8 but Bassett were away and gone.

Further tries from Baker, Byron Lloyd-Gilmour and Floyd were all converted and just before full-time man of the match Qalo went over in the corner for his hat trick. The conversion was missed but Bassett had secured a famous 78-8 victory.

Bassett will be hugely encouraged by a great win. Ivybridge failed to turn up and surely can’t play that poorly again.

Next, Bassett travel the short distance to face Wiltshire rivals Marlborough on the Common.