SWINDON took a huge stride towards the league title with their solid win over nearest rivals Chipping Norton at Greenbridge Road on Saturday.

The four-try victory, which moved them four points clear at the summit, means that the crown is now effectively Swindon's unless they falter late in the season.

With Norton deciding to play into the wind in the first half, Swindon dominated early on.

And the breakthrough came from a five-metre Chipping Norton scrum.

The Swindon pack simply drove their opposition off the ball at the set piece and then controlled it until number eight Ian Reynolds was able to touch down.

Norton replied with a dropped goal the final score of the first half but Swindon were dominant at the start of the second period.

Good work by the pack kept possession. And as the line beckoned the ball came loose and scrum-half Connal Knott showed his strength to wrestle his way over the line.

Neil Maycock converted and the third try wasn't long in arriving.

A driving maul took them to within a metre of the line before prop Danny Webb broke off and powered his way over.

Norton replied with a try under the posts, although the conversion was surprisingly missed.

Swindon finally put themselves clear with a try from prop Nick Brooks.

He reacted first to a loose ball and bulldozed his way through two defenders.