Russell leads scoring spree
Corsham kicked off their Dorset and Wilts Division One North campaign with an emphatic home victory over Westbury on Saturday.
Relegated from Southern Counties South last season, the home side were always going to be favourites against a youthful Westbury side, and so it proved as they cantered to a comfortable win.
Corsham got their noses in front early when number Ben Russell barged his way over.
Despite being affected by injury and unavailability, including the loss of back row Ian McNerlin with a calf injury in added further tries from lock Tim Minty and blindside flanker Mick Mealing, the latter converted by wing Denzil Brockhurst.
Russell went over for his second try to make it 22-0 at the break.
A dip in concentration and the renewed efforts of a spirited Westbury thwarted Corsham's progress in the early stages of the second half, but Brockhurst slotted a penalty.
Russell then crossed over to complete his hat-trick, but Westbury hit back to run through the home side's slack midfield defences.
That try served as a wake-up call, and Corsham responded with the best try of the game as hooker Wes Newson and front row colleague Ed Minty interlinked with a neat passage of passes up the left, before releasing scrum half Chris Jones to add the finishing touch.
A well-worked try from full back Craig Avent and a final touchdown from winger Gary Ings ensured Corsham finished with a flourish.
