MARLBOROUGH won a high quality game against North Dorset with a 26-21 victory to extend their impressive run to seven straight wins in Southern Counties South.

Both teams, together with the Nomads and Corsham 2nd observed a minute's silence before the games for ex-coach Neil Osborne, who had recently passed away.

North Dorset got into the game early and took advantage of the home team conceding penalties to kick themselves to a 9-0 lead with three penalties in the first 30 minutes.

However, there was some fine rugby being played by a number of the Marlborough team.

Half-backs Jake Williams and Amori Nailago both had good games and always kept the team going forward.

Flanker James Farrell scored the first of his three tries with a superb individual try shortly after the visitors' third penalty.

Full-back Nathan Morgan kicked the conversion to leave his side trailing by two going into half-time Farrell scored his second try with Morgan converting, which was then followed by the visitors scoring shortly afterwards.

The pattern repeated midway through the second half when centre Garth Bari scored a try, again converted by Morgan and soon after North Dorset replied with an unconverted try.

As the game went into the last period, Marlborough coach Chris Budgen came on as prop Lotu Ngungutau was injured.

With just five minutes to go Farrell completed his man of the match performance and his hat-trick to give the home side victory.