PLAYING on a hard, fast pitch, Chippenham's 3rd XV faced a strong Cooper Avon 2nd team at Allington Field in their penultimate Merit Table game of the season.

The contest between the respective forward lines proved to be decisive in this game and right from the whistle, it was the Chippenham forwards that found their rhythm first.

The pressure told after ten minutes. After a couple of phases, the ball was fed to Ian Bannister. He drew his man out, putting the ball through to Dave Burrows who broke the tackle and then showed his studs to score in the corner.

There then followed a quite brilliant hat-trick of tries from prop forward Dave Williams.

Avon fought back gamely and won a penalty kick. But this further galvanised Chippenham into action and they reclaimed the initiative.

Further tries followed as Matt Bowker turned the Avon full back inside out. Chris Mooney was next to score after a passage of play involving the whole team.

In the second half Bannister was put through to score near the posts and Williams scored his second from close in off the back of a ruck.

In a final flourish, Burrows broke down the narrow side to score and man of the match Williams scored his third.