Chippenham gain consolation win over Wiltshire neighbours

A week after being assured of winning Regional 2 Severn, Trowbridge travelled to Allington Field for their penultimate game of the season. The opposition were determined to remind the Doric Park faithful they thought that next season would be a challenge, though it is clear that the Trowbridge contingent prefer to be in the position they find themselves in. In fact in the last two weekends the two Wiltshire sides have ended without any change in their league positions with both sides going a bonus point win and a losers bonus point

Trowbridge made changes to their line up for this match as flanker Ben Mallett, who scored a hat trick of tries the previous week against Witney, was playing for the Royal Navy in France, Ryan Lech and Max Day were not available, and Alex Murchison was injured. The start of the match was evenly contested, although play was at the Trowbridge end, but Trowbridge second row Olly Bilton scored a try in the corner after a line out in the 14th minute. Chippenham responded with an attack when their scrum half Tom Fogarty crossed the whitewash with a try and soon after a kick from the base of the scrum was charged down by Chippenham flanker Iestyn Asher. He won the race to the ball and Chippenham were 10-5 ahead. Soon after Bilton scored again and this time Tom Weaver converted to regained the lead. There was no more scoring until just before the break when Chippenham scored in the corner, wing George Brooks getting the touchdown. At the break Chippenham led 15-12.

When the teams returned for the second half they shared possession, but the Trowbridge team scored first when they regained the lead. They had several phases close to the Chippenham line and they regained the lead when hooker Rhys Redman went over from a rolling maul. They continued to press but the Chippenham defence prevented a further score. A quarter of an hour into the half, the hosts broke out of their 22 and ran the length of the field. Right wing Brooks beat the Trowbridge defence to score and Cook made his first conversion. A few minutes later scrum half Fogarty scored his second try and Cook again added the extras before a period of forward dominance enabled Chippenham to score again. The score was 34-17 and Trowbridge were struggling to contain their hosts. They did rally and were able to score a fourth try to gain a bonus point, Redman crossing again in the last play of the game. Chippenham were roared on to victory by a their vocal support but have to settle for making the play offs after the league season finishes after the next round of matches on the week after Easter.

Trowbridge’s next match is a Bath Combination Cup match with Bath University at Doric Park on the evening of Thursday 2nd April. Before their final home league Match against North Dorset on 11th April.