DORSET & Wilts Division 1 North leaders Corsham lost their 100 per cent record to neighbours Cooper-Avon Tyres in Saturday's hard-fought derby at Lacock Road.

The Melksham visitors went behind early on but showed great character to hit back and inflict a first league defeat on their hosts.

Corsham boasted five straight wins going into Saturday's encounter, but basic errors cost the home side throughout the game.

Corsham certainly made a bright start, their first try coming within the first 10 minutes when full-back Denzil Brockhurst scampered over.

Melksham reduced the deficit with a penalty from full-back Luke Brailey and, with fly-half Jon Cox kicking astutely, they found themselves with more territorial advantage in the second half.

The home defence were absent as right wing Rob Bailey sprinted over and a spilled pass then gifted a try for left wing Matt Glover.

The gap was too much for Corsham to claw back, and, with their tails up, Cooper-Avon had the last word with No 8 Jeremy Flower driving over for the final try.

The second string gained a comfortable victory over Melksham in their Bath Combination 2nd XV Merit Table match.

The visitors led 15-0 at the break through tries from centre Greg Musto and prop Evan Hargreaves, who was later sin-binned.

Steve Tye added a penalty and one conversion, but Corsham could only add a further touchdown in the second half from back row newcomer Doug Anderson.

MINETY 2nd skipper Andy Brown conceded his side had been overwhelmed as Warminster ran out 40-0 winners in Dorset & Wilts Two North.

The match marked the final appearance for ex-second team skipper Mike Strong.

Brown admitted: "We were beaten by a better side. Their forwards were nearly three stone a man heavier than ours, and their backs were all three yards faster.''

CHIPPENHAM won the battle of the second strings, overcoming Wootton Bassett 40-24.

In a six tries to four thriller, Chippenham made the perfect start when club captain Tim Dunford and No 8 Stuart King crossed the line.

But Pete Thornton evened matters up with a brace of tries and were rewarded for further pressure when Piers Carter crossed in the second half after a brilliant break from Mark Trowbridge.

Chippenham, however, regained their composure and further tries came from Dunford, Joss Barnes, Dan Shuker and Julian Squires.

Gareth Williams added another score for Bassett.

Chippenham 3rd returned to action after a two-week break, but were beaten 15-12 by Walcot.

Chris Cook's try gave them the lead and Alun Jones added another, Ceri Morris converting, to put them 12 points up.

But Walcot struck a penalty and were in the lead by half-time through two converted tries.