SUPERMARINE eked out an 18-15 win at Hungerford that was easier than the scoreline suggests.

The visitors suffered a blow before kick-off when hooker Jamie Barrett pulled out due to a thigh strain his first missed game for the club in four seasons.

Youngster Jamie Masson was blooded, but took a penalty by Gareth Case to open the account in the 31st minute but, from the restart, poor defensive management gave Hungerford the equalising penalty.

Case restored the lead, but changes had to be made in the backs when White pulled up lame and so was replaced by another youngster, John Clarke, at fly-half.

Second row powerhouses Steve Duffy and Mark Hoskins cut through the defences early in the second half, allowing wing Warren Huggins to glide in unopposed.

Five minutes later, a similar overlap was made and Duffy went over, Case converting.

Hungerford's two late treis, one converted, made it close than it neede to be.

CORSHAM slipped to a 23-8 home defeat against a younger, fitter Trowbridge side in their opening Dorset & Wilts Division 1 encounter.

A somewhat depleted Corsham, back in the league after two seasons in Southern Counties South, were never in contention and their consolation points came from a Haydn Brockhurst penalty and a try from No 8 Ben Russell.