CHIPPPENHAM opened their 2004 account with a gritty win against a powerful Windsor side.

Robbie Spiers' side had won the reverse clash in Windsor by a single point so the visitors were gunning for revenge. The game was nip and tuck to start with as the two teams felt their way back into things after a three-week break.

But it was Chippenham who made the break through when Grant Trewartha kicked through and Darren McMillan touched down. The conversion was missed by Rupert Crockett.

Ten minutes from half-time full-back Dave Spiers picked ball up in own half broke through Windsor defence.

McMillan was again supporting on the right and Spiers put him away for a try in the corner that was converted.

But it was Windsor who had the last word in the first half when sustained pressure resulted in their hooker driving over in the corner to make it 12-5.

At the start of the second half Windsor's forwards battered the home side.

Chippenham could not get out of their own 22 and had to resort to collapsing the Windsor mauls.

Tight-head Jim Pratt and second row Kevin Rowe were both sin-binned for collapsing mauls within five minutes of each other as Chippenham were reduced to 13 men.

Windsor took advantage of their extra numbers their prop drove a maul into right corner. But the pendulum swung back in Chippenham's favour once their two men returned to the action. Windsor had a player of their own sin-binned and were hit hard in his absence.

A great passage of play ended with Spiers putting over a penalty to make the score 15-10.

Spiers made a great break and fed Joscelyn Barnes who in turn released flanker Gary Squires to go over. Spiers converted to complete the scoring.

Chippenham travel to struggling High Wycombe on Saturday.