Trowbridge approached the Christmas break needing to win to maintain their 100% record for the season against the only 2nd team in this league. They won the first match between the teams and welcomed back player coach Alex Kilbane who had only made a cameo appearance against Chippenham since the first match in September. They were still without the unavailable Ben Mallett and Sam Harrison again and fielded a similar team to the team that beat Keynsham last week.

The visitors tested the Doric Park outfit in the opening stages but could not break the home defence. No 8 Kacey Pike took advantage of an opening in the Bassett defence when he went over from a line out after 10 minutes for an unconverted try, but Bassett responded soon after with a try from centre Chris Tamara-Toon, converted by Connor Tomley. Trowbridge centre Alex Murchison extended their lead after 18 minutes when he broke clear for a try which was converted by Tom Weaver. The same two players scored again before the interval with tries and the interval score was 22-7. This was sufficient to gain a bonus league point in the first half.

Pike completed a hat trick with a try 10 minutes into the second half, and this was followed in quick succession by touchdowns from prop Jack Davies, wing Oakley Milton, who ran in from the half way line and lock Dan Bowman. The visitors who fielded a young side played with some spirit, but the Trowbridge side’s defence did not fold again. They completed the scoring with a try from second row Olly Bilton and when flanker Ryan Lech outpaced the defence as if he was chasing his wife who was about to give birth in the last minute. By this time kicker Tom Weaver, who suffered a bit with his kicking in the wind had left the field and wing Alex Christopher had taken over the kicking and slotted two conversions to bring the final score to 56-7.

In other matches Chippenham eventually overcame Keynsham after the scores were close until into the second half, while second place Cleve’s match at Thornbury succumbed to the rain in the week.

Then roads now lead to the first match of the new year at Cleve on 10th January where the teams will be meeting in a long awaited match between the top two sides, and when Trowbridge’s record will be tested and spectators are being encouraged to support the team in what now now is likely to decide who wins the league, though other clubs may still have a say in the final table although Keynsham, Old Centralians and Longlevens all seem to have lost ground in the chase after losing on Saturday.