A totally dominant Castle Cary chewed up Cheddar at home with a 12 try rout – prop Chris Wake steaming over for four scores and brother Phil in imperious form with the boot adding nine conversions in the 78-8 victory.

Plucky Cheddar Valley fought to the end and the biggest cheer of the day from a large Cary crowd supplemented by Cheshire touring team Winslow came when the visitors crossed late in the second half for a consolation score.

The game was won and lost at the set-piece with the Cary having an almost embarrassing dominance at the scrum, at one stage the Cheddar scrum was pushed backwards so far and fast that the referee regarded it as dangerous and warned the home side pack.

Cary coach Ben Coombes praised his side for a brand of exciting, running rugby that showed hard work on the training pitch had paid off.

“We looked to run the ball, made good choices and the pack were very strong,” he said. “I’m delighted that the lads played at pace and with a lot of control, and we showed the crowd on our last home match that there is a lot of talent on the pitch.”

Playing into the wind and up the slope, Cary were quickly on the attack and veteran James Atkins led a series of charges before touching down for the first of his two scores.

Prop Wake, who has a hugely impressive scoring record, was soon in on the act and completed a pair of first half scores from his trademark 2m distance. When moving at speed and from short distance, Wake is a formidable opponent and almost impossible to stop.

Cheddar Valley landed a penalty to get some points on the board but it was clear they were being outclassed in virtually every department – except for commitment and heart. The side never gave up and won friends on the touchline for their attempts to play attacking rugby.

Sadly for them, Cary were not in a generous mood and attack after attack came from the home side with the scores piling up. Further touchdowns from veteran Tony Reynolds, Chris Wake, Lawrence Cox, Phil Wake with a brace, Jordan Smith and John Clay kept the scoreboard ticking over and Wake was in exceptional form with the boot, kicking conversions from tight to the touchline in the teeth of a very strong wind.

The final score typified the game as a whole. A Cheddar scrum on the 22m line was taken against the head, the pack was driven back to the try line and a series of pick-up and drives was bravely held at bay until after a series of infringements, the ref awarded a penalty try.

On this form, Cary are well worth their position in the higher reaches of the Somerset One Division and have the pack to match most other teams, the challenge facing the side next year will be to match that performance with creativity and pace in the backs line – there will be far tougher fixtures ahead than they faced against Cheddar.