CHIPPENHAM secured second place in Regional Two Severn last weekend without taking to the field after Thornbury lost 35-24 at home to Newent.

Third-place Thornbury needed to pick up bonus-point victories in both of their final two games to overhaul Chippenham, but the Somerset club lost to the side directly below them.

Elsewhere in the division, Trowbridge fell 31-17 to champions Matson at Doric Park.

Trowbridge full-back James Davies surprised the visitors after fielding the kick off and setting up a backs’ move that resulted in centre Olly Shrubb going through a gap and scoring a try, which he converted.

It took some time for Matson to settle down as the Trowbridge defence held firm until a set move from the Gloucester side resulted in two tries from their forwards in the latter part of the half.

With Matson winning 12-7 as the sides switched ends, the visitors continued to press in the second half and soon established a more comfortable lead.

A combination of set moves between their forwards allowed Matson to dot down three more tries.

But the Wiltshire side continued to fight, and they were finally rewarded with two unconverted scores in the dying embers.

Young replacement Matt Simpson finished off a backs’ move with a try before fly-half James MacFarlane - who had been probing the Matson defence throughout - eventually forced his way through to score with the last move of the match.

In Regional Two South Central, Marlborough finished off their league campaign with a 62-7 win away at Stow-on-the-Wold. Meanwhile, Devizes edged past Reading 19-17 on the road.

Royal Wootton Bassett’s quest for survival in Regional One South Central fell agonisingly short after Banbury beat Bournemouth 29-10 and Brighton drew 24-24 with Camberley.