CHIPPENHAM soared to the top of South West One East with an impressive performance at Allington Field.

The home side were in the ascendancy early as Buckingham fumbled not long after the kick-off, Sam Saunders scooped up the ball, Fraser Clilverd drove forward and Matt Bye crashed over for the opening try.

Buckingham’s attempt to keep the ball in hand backfired as they were turned over and, from a close-range penalty, scrum-half Lewis Surry broke tackles to touch down, Saunders converting.

Hitting their stride, Chippenham marched on, Surry, Bobby Lyons and Aaron Clark combining before centre Ryan Surry went under the posts, Saunders again adding the extras.

The bonus point was secured as Lyons kicked on and then, from a scrum, touched down himself.

Captain Clilverd then went under the posts, Saunders converting, making it 31-0 with only 20 minutes gone.

From yet more turnover ball, Dom Riccio’s run ended with Bye setting up Lyons for his second, Saunders again adding the kick.

Even the loss of Luke Corbett to a yellow card failed to upset the hosts’ rhythm and they started the second half well.

Lyons picked up from a scrum and showed a good turn of pace to score his third, converted by Saunders before Jon Turner took the ball down the blindside and spun past three defenders to add another converted score.

Buckingham responded with their first points, but another steal allowed Lewis Surry to hand off the defence and score his second.

The visitors added a converted score, but the last word went to the hosts, Andy Williamson touching down and Riccio adding the extras.