MALMESBURY lost out in a hard fought affair in conditions that very much suited running rugby at The Worthies on Saturday.

Though Marlborough won by four goals and four tries to a goal and a try the home side's spirit was never defeated and they continued to attack right to the end.

Marlborough had a strong, well-organised pack and a number eight in Rob Latham who carried their attack forward and defended well.

The home side's defence tended to move laterally across the field when threatened which left gaps for the visitors to break through.

Malmesbury's recovery in defence was slow sometimes receiving the whole Marlborough back row together with a high ball.

As a result it struggled and Marlborough's line-out tactics were better prepared.

Both Mark Adams at number two and David Foley took most of their own ball and Adams even leaned forward to ground short balls to the front of the Malmesbury line.

Adam Twidell for Malmesbury had the upper hand at the back. Steve Brady returned at scrum half to the home side and linked well with Justin King.

Kevin Tillotson played a strong line in attack but lost a little against George Fox in the visitors' centre and Nick Dobson his second half replacement.

Marlborough took an early lead when Tom Payne fielded a wayward clearance kick from King and ran through the Malmesbury line to score.

Malmesbury withstood another visitors' attack until Marlborough switched their line of attack to the blind side giving George Fox an open line for a try.

Will Bailey scored the next try, which was converted by Simon Lucas, from a pushover under the posts.

Malmesbury fought their way back into the game with a charge down the blind side by Adrian Jacques who put his foot in touch just short. But they did score from a loose maul at the back of the lineout from which Craig Sillars went over.

The visitors went further ahead when Kevin Clancey switched the direction of play and scored in the corner, to leave the half-time score 5-22 to the Marlborough.

Dobson, newly on at half time, scored the away side's next try after running through the Malmesbury line.

This was followed by the best try of the afternoon when Steve Brady stole the ball from the back of the Marlborough scrum inside his own 22-metre line and accelerated towards the try line.

As the visitors' defence caught up with him he passed to Ian Gould on his left who shook off a tackle and touched down under the posts.

Kevin Tillotson added the conversion.

Marlborough by now though were very much in control and despite the efforts of the Malmesbury backs, during which Matthew Reader was concussed, the visitors ran in three more tries.

One from Ian Pocock and two from Nick Dobson. Dobson converted all three to complete the final scores.

Malmesbury's man of the match was Justin King and while Marlborough's man of the match was Will Bailey.