Chippenham 25, Witney 3

BUILDING on last week's impressive win at High Wycombe, Chippenham turned in another solid performance as they took both points at home to Witney in Saturday's South West Division Two East match.

With Trevor Lloyd missing through injury, the reshuffled three-quarter line saw Richard Davis moving to fly-half, with James Barnard coming in at full back in an otherwise unchanged side.

With a delayed kick off due to traffic problems on route from Witney, Chippenham used the visitors' lack of preparation to their advantage.

Some strong forward play led to a try for prop Bob Stevens, which was followed quickly by a well taken try from winger Darren McMillan, who spun out of his opposite number's tackle to score in the corner.

With both tries going unconverted, Witney began to work their way into the game, but while they competed well up front they had few answers to Chippenham's more effective three-quarter line and the mobility of the home side's pack.

The next score came from number eight Kenny Brown, who added a third try after being pushed over following a line-out close to the Witney line. McMillan then gave Chippenham the breathing space they needed going into the break with his second try.

Witney added a penalty in reply, but rarely threatened Chippenham's line with the defence snuffling out all attacks.

The second half saw Chippenham with the majority of both possession and territory, but failing to convert the pressure into points. McMillan was unlucky to be denied a hat-trick after he was held up over the line following a good move by the threequarter line.

This was as close as Chippenham came until midway through the half when a break by Barnard cut through the Witney defence.

He sent winger Gary Squires away and he looked as though he should have made the line. But good cover defence hauled him down metres short. Quick recycling of the ball allowed flanker Ian McNerlin to fall over the line to score.

The remainder of the half continued to be played out in the Witney 22, but Chippenham were unable to breach the line again.

With other results going their way Chippenham continue to lead the way in South West Division Two East, with a significant points difference advantage over their nearest rivals.

However, having played most the sides now inhabiting the bottom half of the table their toughest tests are most obviously still to come.

Tomorrow Chippenham travel to mid-table Aylesbury.

Frampton Cotterell 7,

Chippenham B 34

A WELL organised defensive effort from Chippenham ensured victory in an often scrappy encounter.

With an experienced side, Frampton Cotterell started brightly but found their visitors in determined mood.

Despite having most of the early possession the home side seemed short on ideas and went behind to Chippenham's first attack of the game, when winger Ian Ross raced in for a try, skipper Alun Jones adding the conversion.

Frampton Cotterell rallied strongly after this set back, but were soon further behind when Ceri Morris intercepted a loose pass and, after drawing the cover defence, he put Mike Griffin away to score under the posts. Jones again added the conversion.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the scrappy first and although Frampton Cotterell did score a try in the dying minutes, Chippenham comfortably held on for a deserved victory.

Clevedon under 14s 5,

Chippenham under 14s 36

CHIPPENHAM travelled to Clevedon on Sunday to start the defence of their Bristol Combination Cup.

In an often ill tempered encounter, Chippenham took the game to Clevedon from the start and soon had them under a lot of pressure. A loose kick from the desperate Clevedon defence saw full back Jon Tilley field the ball and run 40 metres to touch down, leaving a trail of missed tackles in his wake. The conversion was missed.

From the kick-off a controlled passage of play saw Tilley break the defence once more and with just the Clevedon full back to beat, a deft grubber kick saw winger Pete Rigby pounce to ground the ball, the conversion being added by Chris Hunt.

With the bit between their teeth, the Chippenham pack continued to control the ball and with intelligent link-ups with the threequarters proceeded to make progress up the field. A quick tap penalty by Tilley fed to the forwards led to Clevedon's defence being breached once more and some slick passing and a clever hold up by Joe Ransom released Sam Alford in a loop around to score unopposed, Hunt's conversion striking the upright.

More hard work and robust engagement from the organised Chippenham pack dealt the backs another try, with winger Joe Ransom finishing off an exciting piece of flowing rugby, capped by the conversion by Chris Hunt. Only 20 minutes on the clock and Chippenham seemed to be running away with the game, but to their credit Clevedon regrouped and managed to retain some ball and amount some pressure on Chippenham.

Chippenham endeavoured to recreate the fast open rugby in the first half, but some costly last pass mistakes and some contentious refereeing decisions saw the game degenerate into a dour stop-go affair.

A minor misdemeanour resulted in a player from each team being sin-binned.

After a period of strong and resolute defending, Chippenham counter attacked from within their 22 and from a line-out a clever change of angle by centre Sam Alford saw him breaking down the left wing and put Joe Ransom in to score, Hunt again adding the conversion.

Clevedon's left wing looped onto the right wing and ran through some woeful Chippenham tackling to score in the corner.

With the Chippenham backs benefiting from a huge amount of quick clean ball from the hard working forwards, it was only fitting that they had the final say in the game. A period of forward domination, which included some determined and aggressive rucking, saw Clevedon's defence crumble once more when second row Kieran Marshall bulldozed his way over the line for the final score.

With the final whistle the Chippenham boys should be proud of contending with such adversity and now look forward to a home draw and a semi-final on November 11.