A GALLANT Corsham effort came to nought on Saturday as they went down 25-14 to Dorset & Wilts Division One leaders Sherborne.

It was a mightily relieved top-table side which left Lacock Road after a much-changed Corsham outfit pushed them all the way.

The Dorset visitors scored a converted try within the opening five minutes, but it wasn't until the last few minutes that a converted try eventually made the game safe and painted something of a flattering picture for the division's high-flyers.

Corsham's first points came from the boot of fly-half Haydn Brockhurst with the first of three penalty kicks.

A second Brockhurst penalty cut the deficit to a point before Sherborne stretched away again with an unconverted try and a penalty of their own.

Corsham, though, had the bit between their teeth at this stage and from their best passage of play, they closed the gap again when a strong run from full-back Mark Warburton set up winger Sam Davis for the touchdown.

Brockhurst could not convert, but the score gave the hosts just the carrot they needed for the second half.

Their efforts were rewarded when Brockhurst slotted a third penalty to bring his side within a point.

Sherborne redoubled their efforts, but Corsham found themselves hampered too by a soaring and questionable penalty count.

Sherborne took advantage to edge back into an 18-14 lead before Corsham were denied when harshly called for a crooked feed at an attacking scrum on the visitors' line.

The home side failed to carve as good a chance again, and a relieved Sherborne eventually clinched their victory with a try in the final few minutes.

Corsham return to cup action this weekend when they host Trowbridge in a Bath Combination Cup tie.

Avonvale 2nd 7 Corsham 2nd 29

CORSHAM fly-half Andy Archer returned from a long injury lay-off to score a brace of tries in the second string's victory over their Bath hosts.

Out since before Christmas with rib and shoulder problems, Archer opened the visitors' account with a try, before centre Paul Davies, on his debut, Number eight Paul Frankcom and skipper and fellow back row Rich Morea also touched down.

Steve Tye slotted one conversion to give Corsham a commanding 22-0 lead at half-time. Battling against a rising penalty count in the second half, Corsham could only add another try from Archer, converted by Tye.