Royal Wootton Bassett returned to form in style as they caused a huge shock with a deserved win over league leaders Exmouth.

Bassett kicked off backed by a large festive crowd and the first ten minutes saw a fascinating battle with both defences on top.

In the eleventh minute, the hosts won a penalty in their own half from a set scrum and the ball was kicked to touch.

The lineout saw Bassett move the ball forward and further indiscipline saw Exmouth concede two further penalties in quick succession.

A drive from flanker Charlie Hix was held up on the line and the ball was fed back inside to fellow back row Jack Daynes who drove over.

The conversion drifted just wide but Bassett had a shock 5-0 lead against the high-flying visitors.

On the 22nd minute mark, a Bassett attack was smothered out.

A speculative punt out was well fielded by the Exmouth right wing who ran the length of the field before just being caught which led to the ball being recycled and an Exmouth forward was able to take advantage driving over.

The conversion was missed and both sides were tied at 5-5.

Just before the interval Exmouth struck a penalty to lead 8-5 at the interval.

The first half had been a tremendous battle with nothing between the sides and it was clear that the second half would again be close.

Bassett dominated the first ten minutes in both possession and territory but there was no way through the Exmouth defence.

In the fifteenth minute the Devon side had their first sustained attack of the half.

A simple lineout and drive saw the try and a well taken conversion saw the South Devon side lead 15-5 and Bassett’s chance looked to have faded away.

However, the Wiltshire side were backed by a vocal crowd who were in no mood to be tamed easily.

A period of sustained pressure on the Exmouth line was being contained by persistent defending.

In the 25th minute, skipper and fly-half Sam Baker delivered an accurate cross-field kick to centre Charlie Brook who caught the ball and dived over. Scrum half Rhys Floyd converted.

Five minutes later Bassett were in wonderland.

Second row Josh McCafferty went on a rampaging run and held up near the line, he fed the ball to Baker who went on a sniping run and released the ball to Charlie Hix who went over under the posts.

Floyd converted and Bassett led 19-15. The Ballards Ash ground was rocking under the floodlights.

The visitors went on the attack pounding the Bassett line in a grandstand effort but such was the intensity of the defence they weren’t able to cross.

The match will live long in the memory and was as good an advertisement for the community game that could be imagined.