CORSHAM took advantage of their rivals' inaction to continue their vice-like grip on the Dorset & Wilts One North title race with a 59-12 thumping of Swindon 2nd at Lacock Road.

The home side ran in nine tries to take a commanding 16-point lead at the top of the table, with nearest rivals Warminster seeing their clash with Bradford on Avon fall victim to the icy conditions.

Corsham played some excellent attacking rugby and produced another strong performance to send Swindon packing.

Kalif Barnes and Liam Snape scored a try apiece to continue their rivalry to be the team's top try scorer.

Ewan Campbell playing at flanker was outstanding and a well deserved man of the match, while 17 year old Sam Fuller made his debut for the first team and capped off a fine performance with the final try of the match.

Corsham head coach Tim Draper said: "With a number of key players missing due to injury or unavailability it gave us the opportunity to mix things up with player positions and also give game time to some of our younger players.

"We need to build up the strength in depth of the squad and the game showed that we have a number of players who can give us options moving forward.''

Corsham's next opponents this coming weekend are Pewsey Vale and, in the only other game to survive in the division on Saturday, they moved up to third in the table with a 43-10 success at Chippenham 2nd.

Four tries in the final 20 minutes sealed the triumph for Vale, who had scored three in the first half and whose solid defence kept Chippenham at bay.

An individual break by lock Karl Crosbie down the left touchline was well supported by prop Nick Damper. who strolled in to score, fly-half James Haynes converting.

Surging forward from the restart, the ball was passed wide for outside centre Jamie Fox to hit the whitewash in the corner.

Chippenham reorganised and camped in Vale’s half for the next 20 minutes and a high tackle by Pewsey wing Toni Bloomfield resulted in a yellow card.

Chippenham piled on the pressure but the visiting defence held firm and, with a minute to half time to go, the returning Bloomfield collected the ball and sprinted in from 50 metres to score in the corner.

Chippenham bounced back well at the start of the second period, with two unconverted tries, but with Pewsey constantly breaking the gain line, the dam burst in the final quarter, Haynes converting three of the tries.

First up to score was centre Chris Takel who caught the ball from a drop out and dashed to the corner unopposed before five minutes later a breakout from Vale’s half sent Bloomfield in for his second.

With 10 minutes to go Crosbie was rewarded for his industry when he ran through a flagging defence to dot down between the posts and Haynes finished off the game running through two tackles to place the ball between the sticks.

Pewsey coach Mick Haynes said: "With seven players absent, the depth of talent in the squad shone through and demonstrated how we have progressed over the last three months.

"The leadership from senior players was outstanding and the defence was breathtaking in its timing, precision and robustness.

"It's a big game next week when we host league leaders Corsham, but a challenge to relish.''