TROWBRIDGE gained another convincing victory over neighbours Bradford on Avon in this Dorset and Wilts cup game, despite being down to 14 men for half the game.

It was up front where Trowbridge gained the advantage with powerful scrummaging and clinical line-out play, starving the Bradford backs of any clean possession.

The game was evenly contested in the opening half with an early score coming from a Bradford penalty to take a 3-0 lead. On the stroke of half-time a well-worked backs move allowed captain Richard Jones to bisect the Bradford defence and sprint 40 yards before passing to David Wells to touch down beneath the posts.

The conversion was added by Sean Sullivan to give Trowbridge a slender half-time lead 7-3.

The second half started badly for Trowbridge when their centre was sent off for a high tackle and Bradford took immediate advantage by scoring a try to lead 8-7.

This seemed to galvanise Trowbridge who increased the pace of the game and became more dominant up front.

Hooker Barry Coombs, outstanding in both the tight and loose all game, was able to charge down a defensive kick and touch down unopposed.

Soon afterwards both Trowbridge wingers, Nick Little and Mark Kemp, scored with fine individual tries after good approach play by both forwards and backs. Sean Sullivan added two more conversions.

Trowbridge 2nds beat Minety 2nds 26-0 in the Dorset and Wilts 2nd XV Cup.