CHIPPENHAM'S promotion hopes were ended in cruel fashion on Saturday afternoon as former National League side Berry Hill sealed their place in South West One next term with victory in a bruising play-off clash at Allington Field.

The promotion decider was halted for more than 40 minutes midway through the second half when Chippenham lock Martin Walsh suffered a broken right leg after making a challenge five metres from his own try line.

Berry Hill led by seven points at the time and stretched their lead with a penalty immediately after the restart. Chippenham were clearly reeling from the shock of Walsh's injury and a further try from visiting hooker Ben Lewis 10 minutes from time all but ended their promotion dreams.

The hosts had dominated the final 20 minutes of the opening half and were in a handy position at the interval after Darren McMillan's try had levelled the scores at five points apiece.

Chippenham captain Scott Sherratt could not hide his disappointment at the final whistle.

He said: "I'm very disappointed. They came out of the blocks well and, although I thought their try looked a bit dubious, fair play to them for starting strongly.

"We then took the game to them a little bit and Berry Hill didn't like the quick pace of it. Turning round at 5-5 was great and I was very happy with things. I thought we were in it.

"But they started well in the second half and we couldn't get to grips with their drives off the line out. Then Martin broke his leg and I thought heads dropped a bit after that.

"We came back out and didn't live up to what we had been hoping to do."

Berry Hill travelled to Allington Field with a formidable reputation, but Sherratt felt his men had provided them with a real test on the day and could even have clinched a famous victory.

"They were very ordinary in the backs and these Forest of Dean sides are nothing to be afraid of. We didn't get stuffed out of sight and, on another day, it might have been different.

"They got a try quickly after Martin's injury but, after that, it was all us again. I'm really proud of the boys. The club wanted to go up and we're just sorry we couldn't do it this time. We've proved over the past three seasons that we are the most consistent side and we want to go for the big push next time."

In front of the biggest crowd seen at Allington Field since its opening, Berry Hill enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges.

The home side's line looked to be holding firm until a break by Berry Hill left winger Craig Jenkins saw him go over in the corner. Bristol referee Shaun Partridge awarded the try, despite claims Partridge had not grounded the ball.

It soon became clear that, while the Forest of Dean side were going to enjoy the better of the tight exchanges, the hosts had the advantage in open play and for the remainder of the half they tried to exploit this to the full.

Eventually their pressure told and a blindside break initiated by scrum-half Tim Dunford saw winger McMillan cross the line to level the scores. James Barnard failed with his conversion.

Chippenham were in control at the break, but Berry Hill emerged having clearly changed their game plan.

The breakthrough soon came, but only thanks to another hotly disputed try from Rob Rawlings. Lee Osbourne added the conversion to stretch the Berry Hill lead to seven.

Walsh's injury and the resulting delay effectively ended any hopes Chippenham had of a comeback, and Osbourne's penalty and the final try from Lewis put the outcome beyond doubt.

Chippenham coach Pete Beazer, taking charge of his last league game before stepping down in the summer, was far from despondent.

He said: "We played well and that was the main thing. If we'd have played poorly and lost then I would have been disappointed.

"Berry Hill are a club with a lot of history. They have been up there before, while for us it is all about breaking down that barrier and getting through. It was a good effort from us.

"I said to the lads in September that our main objective was to either win the league or come second. We did it and we'd have taken this situation at the start of the season.

"To see a lot of people there on Saturday was good for the club and hopefully it has promoted rugby in the area."