HEAD coach Jason Forster has reminded his faltering Chippenham side that the Tribute South West One West title race remains in their hands after back-to-back defeats halted the Allington Field juggernaut.

Wiltshire’s highest-ranked team appeared to be cruising serenely towards a return to National League level – from which they were relegated last term – when they won their opening 15 matches of the season.

However, successive away losses at Bristol’s Old Redcliffians and 30-24 at Camborne in Cornwall on Saturday have shrunk a one-time nine-point advantage to just one, with Brixham and Old Reds, who are a further six points back, lurking.

Chippenham have no game this weekend and could find themselves off the summit for the first time since the start of the season if Brixham win at Avonmouth Old Boys.

Former Wales international Forster, who took over at the start of the season, admitted Chippenham’s more recent performances meant defeats were on the cards but remains convinced that those reverses were blips.

“The important thing for our boys to remember is that their destiny is still in their own hands and it’s up to us to put the wheels back on the wagon,’’ said the ex-Newport/Gwent Dragons flanker, who was capped once by his country.

“There is a lot of pressure on these boys and it’s about coping with that when things don’t go as right as they have been.

“We’ve got to go back to the basics of controlling the ball in the game and not trying to ‘hit a six’ every time.

“It’s a test of their character and of their mental strength. This is a tough league and that pressure has been building all season.

“A lot of our guys haven’t been in this position before.’’

Last Saturday’s defeat in Cornwall meant the Wiltshire men had shipped an uncharacteristic 73 points in just two matches, but Forster can trace the origins of their recent wobble further back.

He added: “In the last few weeks it (defeat) has been coming. We were winning ugly a few weeks before that and in the last two weeks we haven’t been winning ugly.

“”We’ve conceded some soft tries and then got into more trouble when we’ve tried to chase the game.

“Other teams are looking at us now and thinking ‘they’re beatable’, but we’ve still picked up bonus points which have been vital for us when we haven’t played well.’’