CHIPPENHAM slipped to a second successive South West One East defeat as Swindon's win over Oxford Harlequins threatened to drag them back towards the relegation zone.
Off the back of an 80-point mauling at the hands of Maidenhead, the home side took on third-placed Newbury Blues at Allington Field, but came off second best losing 38-10.
An early flurry of four yellow cards, with Chippenham down to 14 players for half of the first period, allowed Newbury to take a 9-0 lead through the boot of Nick Wackwitz and the visitors then added a try through Alex Millar.
Chippenham built up some forwards pressure and responded as Scott Sherratt for their opening try, but a second score for the visitors, from wing Cameron Golby Barr and converted by Wackwitz took Newbury further clear.
The hosts shared territorial advantage in the second half, but Toby Thorne and Josh Winfield crashed over for scores for the Blues, Wackwitz converting the second.
Jamie Futcher added another for the visitors, with prop Ben Riley crossing for Chippenham's second.
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