CHIPPENHAM put clear daylight between themselves and the rest of South West One East as nearest rivals Towcestrians were put to the sword at Allington Field.

Danny Thomas’s men are now nine points clear of their Northamptonshire rivals after a strong first-half showing laid the platform for their 13th straight league triumph, despite a strong fightback.

The home side started with urgency and mauled over the line from 15 metres for Nick Aston to open the scoring, Dom Riccio adding the conversions.

The visitors got on the board with a penalty but the Chippenham forwards were dominant, stretching the Towcestrians defence for scrum-half Lewis Surry to dart through a gap, Riccio again adding the extras.

The hosts continued to caugh up penalties, allowing their opponents to stay in touch with two more successful kicks.

But Chippenham added a third try before the break as the ball was spun wide to Sam Saunders who cut a fine line to score, Riccio adding the conversion for a 21-9 lead.

In confident mood going into the second half, Chippenham found themselves pegged back as Towcestrians showed their threat, scoring a converted try to cut the gap, then a converted one to tie the scores.

Led by skipper Fraser Clilverd though, Chippenham scored two excellent tries to wrap up victory.

Aston broke off the back of a maul to go over for his second, converted by Riccio before the ball was switched at speed to the right to give Ryan Surry the chance to go over.