CORSHAM strengthened their grip at the top of the league with victory at their Lacock Road ground over Swindon seconds on Saturday.

With near rivals Westbury and Melksham based Cooper Avon Tyres sharing the points in a 10-10 draw, the leaders gained a two-point cushion.

Forced into changes after the previous weekend's Bath Combination Cup victory over Old Culverhaysians, Corsham still entered the game in confident and determined mood and an explosive start soon had their hosts reeling.

Early pressure resulted in a penalty, but full-back Denzil Brockhurst's attempt drifted wide.

Soon after, though, hooker Tim Russell started the ball rolling as he profitted from a quick tap penalty by Rob Snape-Johnson to plunge over.

Swindon found themselves 22-0 down in as many minutes as Corsham stepped up a gear.

After centre Tony Iacono was stopped short, prop Ed Minty arrived in support and touched down, Iacono crossed himself after being released by Brockhurst on a counter-attack and then the latter dived over after a chip and chase.

Swindon, despite the forward efforts of number eight Aaron Paea, skipper Steve Elsby and hooker Andy Holt, looked on the ropes at the interval.

In worsening conditions it took Corsham some time to grab their final try in the second half.

Handling proved difficult for both sides but Russell safely gathered from a rehearsed lineout move and galloped through for his second try, Brockhurst converting from in front of the posts.

Swindon, bolstered by the return from injury of first-team centres Stuart Cock and James Turney, proved more of a threat in the latter stages and, after an earlier penalty attempt went astray, scrum-half Steve Packer took a quick tap, found a gap in the home defences and ploughed his way between the posts for Toby Rowe to convert.

It was to be the final notable play and in a game fragmented by a couple of niggly encounters, home number eight Roy Hewett and a back row opponent were sin-binned in the final minutes for brawling.

Another downside for the home team saw try-scorer Minty forced out of the action with a dislocated shoulder. He could now miss the next few weeks' action, and is definitely ruled out of Saturday's league trip to Pewsey Vale where Corsham would be confident of consolidating their position.

Just who turns up for Pewsey on the day will have a lot of bearing on the final result however.

Old Sullians 2nd 8 Corsham 2nd 12

Corsham's second string returned to winning ways in the Bath Combination 2nd XV Merit Table with a hard-fought victory in a dour encounter in Bath.

The visitors made a slow start to the game, but with Shaun Lynch producing some sterling defensive work, Sulians could make little headway.

They eventually got their noses in front with an unconverted try and led 5-0 at the break.

With skipper Andy Donald reverting to the hooker's role from number eight, Corsham began to make more headway in the second half and blindside Chris James dived over after a spell of pressure to level the scores.

A Sulians penalty made it 8-5 but after a missed penalty attempt, the visitors eventually grabbed their decisive score, James feeding centre Rory Auld, who broke a number of tackles to touch down. Steve Tye's conversion completed the scoring.