FOR the second year running, Chippenham failed to make the final of the Dorset and Wilts Cup, losing out to South Division One opponents in the closing minutes.

Swanage, currently fighting relegation, were expected to give promotion hopefuls Chippenham an indication of the step up in standards needed to survive in the higher league but Chippenham were instead left pondering a host of missed opportunities that could have seen them win comfortably.

Tactical naivety cost Chippenham the first score when midway through the first half Swanage broke clear from a line out just outside the Chippenham 22 with a cleverly executed move.

With Chippenham's front jumpers intent on disrupting the Swanage line they left themselves exposed to an attack down the flank which saw the Swanage hooker retake the ball and cross to score.

Chippenham got themselves back into the game soon after with a James Barnard penalty and then took the lead shortly before half-time when Barnard slotted his second kick at goal.

With both sides now fighting to a stand still, tempers boiled over, resulting in the sinbinning of Chippenham skipper Scott Sherratt for the second week running together with the Swanage flanker.

Chippenham mounted their best attack of the day which saw Barnard brought down only a metre short of the Swanage line. With Swanage clearing from the following scrum Chippenham went into the break holding only a slender advantage.

The second half followed in much the same vein.

Winger McMillan was proving to be Chippenham's biggest threat in attack as he used his pace down the right wing but the support or final pass was never good enough to get past the Swanage defenders.

Both sides made a number of substitutions midway through the half and one of these changes was to prove key , with the Swanage fly-half moving to scrum half and immediately putting his opposite number, Tim Dunford, under more pressure at the base of the scrum.

From a scrum five metres from the Chippenham line Dunford's clearance fell well short and the Swanage flanker pounced on the loose ball to put Swanage back into the lead.

This Saturday Chippenham will be taking a welcome break from cup and league rugby with the visit of touring side, Loughborough, for an Easter friendly. Kick-off is at 2.30 pm.