Chippenham break their league duck in real style (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Chippenham break their league duck in real style

CHIPPENHAM finally opened their account in South West Division One with a resounding 39-0 victory over Spartans.

Chippenham went into Saturday's home game against the Gloucester outfit on the back of five straight defeats.

But they put their dismal barren spell behind them by running in six tries on their way to a convincing victory.

Injuries to several players meant that coach Rob Alford and his team had to make changes to the original line-up, with Dan Reynolds, Kevin Thornton and Barry Kinsella all pulling out late.

But despite missing three regular players, Chippenham started the game in determined mood and a 25-metre drive towards the Spartans line soon yielded the first try for prop Mark Livesey.

From the restart, Chippenham again put Spartans under pressure, the Gloucester visitors transgressed and Andy Williamson slotted the first of three penalties.

Chippenham were on the attack soon after and winger Darren McMillan touched down, only to have the try disallowed for a knock-on.

It was not long, though, before the home side stretched their lead to 13-0, scrum-half Williamson going over from a pushover.

With Williamson then adding another penalty, Chippenham held a 16-0 lead nearing half-time.

Spartans finished the half with 14 men as their lock was sin-binned for persistent offending.

Chippenham took advantage of their numerical superiority with a try straight from the kick-off, Livesey going over for his second try.

The restart saw Chippenham on the attack again and the pressure forced another Spartans player to the bin, Williamson extending the lead with a penalty.

Chippenham's next try was a fantastic solo effort from Matt Spurway who ran virtually from the halfway line to score, and Livesey then turned provider as his strong run set up skipper Rupert Crockett for a score.

The Wiltshire side were still not finished and in the dying minutes hooker Ian Jones went over for the final try.