VICTORY for Chippenham was vital to maintain home ground advantage in the play offs for promotion to South West One, with Reading Abbey seemingly assured of the title and the only automatic progression.

The return of centre and skipper Rupert Crockett for the match at Alliongton Field was a boost for the home side, but both teams had regular key players missing.

Playing in bright sunshine and on a relatively firm pitch, the opening exchanges between the two sides were fast and furious and a great early break by Chippenham's scrum-half Andy Williamson set the tone of the half.

Swanage replied with forward thursts of their own, but the home side weathered the storm and hit back, scoring the first try when prop Karl Parry-Curtis barged over. Williamson added the extras to make it 7-0.

Each side then employed a kicking game, proving effective for both, although a Swanage punt rather upset a spectator when it scored a direct hit with her glass of red wine.

Poor finishing plagued Chippenham during a period camped on their opposition line and eventually Swanage broke out, only to be held up just short of the Chippenham chalk.

From a line-out Chippenham regained possession and a lovely flowing move through the backs was thwarted yet again by the visitors. At the same time, a few niggles between the two teams began to boil over.

Chippenham's second try came from another flowing move which this time found Grant Trewartha who headed for the tryline to score. Williamson converted and Chippenham had a 14-0 lead going into the half-time break.

From the restart, Chippenham attacked but Swanage met like with like and the home side went on the defensive. A lengthy stoppage due to an injury to the Swanage fly-half, John Harris, gave the players the chance to get their breath but after the restart it was Chippenham who found themselves camped in their own half.

Tempers flared up at this point resultilng in the referee having to call the two captains together. Once play resumed, Swanage continued to mount pressure and eventually they were awarded a penalty which was converted to give them their first points of the game.

Chippenham went on the attack again from the restart but again Swanage managed to clear the ball and launch a counter-attack.

The rest of the second half was virtually spent in the Chippenham half of the field, but towards the end of the match, Chippenham broke out with lock Kevin Thornton leading the way.

He drove his way towards the Swanage line, off-loading to Parry-Curtis, who crashed over. Unfortunately, the final pass was ruled forward and the try disallowed.

There was very little time left after that and the final whistle was blown with Chippenham very gratefully taking the points.

The defeat of Coney Hill by bottom club Barnstaple in South West Two West makes Spartans Chippenham's likely play off opponents, but makes home ground advantage likely with only league fixtures against Wimborne and Oakmedians remaining.

The play off will take place on April 30.

Adding complications to the fixture calendar for Chippenham is their Bath Combination Cup semi-final commitment against Midsomer Norton.

The date for this clash has also been finalised this week and will be played at Midsomer Norton on Wednesday, April 13 with the kick-off scheduled for 6.30pm.

Robbie Spiers, Chippenham first team manager and club chairman said: "The reasons for accepting the time and date is that the final is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20."

The only spare Saturday that Chippenham could have suggested is April 16 but that date can't really be considered as it clashes with Bath's Powergen Cup final against Leeds Tykes.

"Most people from this neck of the woods will be at Twickenam so that only left the Sundays following either our scheduled fixture against Wimborne or Oakmedians which would have been a selection nightmare," Spiers said.

Chippenham are hot favourites to make it four wins in four years in the Bath Combination Cup.