IMPRESSIVE Swindon edged a step closer to securing the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier Division title with a 95-16 massacre of bottom club Thatcham.

The visitors ran in 15 tries as they comprehensively buried memories of a defeat to their hosts last season, prop Nick Brooks scoring a hat-trick.

Amazingly, Thatcham took an early lead with a penalty kick but it wasn't long before wing Mathieu Seynaeve opened the try count.

Another penalty kick kept the home side in touch before dancing feet by centre James Turney put him under the posts.

He got close to his second soon after, being stopped just short of the line, but had the presence of mind to pop the ball to Guy Sturla in support for the touchdown.

Another Swindon infringement saw a third penalty converted by Thatcham, but Swindon responded with a try from skipper Paul Wakefield after a typically powerful run.

With Swindon beginning to throw the ball around, a mistake in open play let Thatcham through for a breakaway try.

But that was the last time the home side scored and Swindon added a further three tries before the break.

Prop Nick Brooks opened up his tally for the day and Stuart Cock, playing on the wing, showed some powerful running out wide to score a brace of tries.

Neil Maycock converted one to leave the score 45-16 at the break.

The second half saw Swindon exerting more control and scoring almost at will.

A show-and-go from fly-half Maycock put him under the posts and five minutes later the same move had the same result.

These and his 10 conversions gave him an impressive 30-point tally for the day.

Coach John Brown was urging the forwards to show more in open play and they responded with some quality attacking play.

No 8 Jon Parker got on the scoresheet and prop Pat McBain made several bullocking runs, one which resulted in a try from him and another setting up young scrum-half Connal Knott, who finished superbly.

A catch and drive from 25 metres out led to a try for Brooks and he secured his hat-trick after a break from Maycock.

Substitute wing Ben Pailor finished off the scoring with a fine individual effort, breaking from the halfway line and beating his opposite man before using his pace to take him clear.

SWINDON College kept up their bid for promotion from Berks, Bucks & Oxon One South with a 17-0 victory at rock-bottom Phoenix 2nd.

The result kept College clear in second place.