FAST-IMPROVING Calne remain on the fringes of title contention in Dorset & Wilts One after they sent Marlborough hurtling towards the basement with a 72-3 defeat.

The visitors made it 172 points in just two league matches, after their 100-10 demolition of Pewsey a fortnight ago.

John Hope-Smith scored the first try, exploiting a small overlap, and centres Neil Young and Guthrie Holliday soon followed suit with solo efforts.

Young notched up his second with a 70-metre burst from Holliday's pass and Andy Donegan added the conversion.

And it wasn't long before Holkiday himself crossed again.

Openside Damon Murphy and hooker Mick Dyer his first try for the club added scores in the second half.

Young completed his hat-trick thanks to a Donegan break and tighthead prop Matt Arnold pounced on a loose ball.

Winger Hope-Smith chipped the defence and out-sprinted the opposition cover for his second and the final word was left to pacy full-back James Gladding to add the final score, Donegan adding a simple conversion.

n CORSHAM strengthened their grip at the top of Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North with a 29-7 victory over Swindon 2nd at Lacock Road.

And with near rivals Westbury and Melksham sharing a 10-10 draw, the leaders gained a two-point cushion at the summit.

Hooker Tim Russell started the ball rolling from a quick tap penalty by Rob Snape-Johnson.

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

Prop Ed Minty, centre Tony Iacono and full-back Denzil Brockhurst crossed in quick succession.

Swindon, despite the forward efforts of No 8 Aaron Paea, skipper Steve Elsby and hooker Andy Holt, looked on the ropes at the interval.

In worsening conditions, though, it took Corsham time to grab their final try in the second half, Russell galloping through for his second and Brockhurst converting.

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.

Late on, two players, including home No 8 Roy Hewett were sin-binned for brawling.

Elsewhere in the division, Supermarine ran in 12 tries in a 66-0 mauling of Cricklade.