SUPERMARINE, blighted by last-minute call-offs, gave champions Corsham a run before slipping to a 38-20 defeat in Saturday's Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North match.

The late absences meant skipper and openside Jamie Titcombe having to switch to scrum-half.

But he certainly led by example and tested the leaders time and again with his foraging running.

Corsham started the stronger of the two sides but the Swindon side were not to be budged, and it was they who scored first.

Shaun Higgins spotted a gap, and split the defence before touching down, Alex O'Neill adding the extra two points.

The home side, after an earlier penalty miss, responded with an unconverted try from blindside Roy Hewett.

Supermarine were undaunted, however, and a counter-attack yielded a penalty, which O'Neill slotted for a 10-5 lead.

Corsham responded again, with the best try of the game, as Andy Redgewell, another back row man, crossed over after a sweeping move.

After a delay for injury, full-back Denzil Brockhurst also crossed over later in the half, converting the latter two touchdowns for a 19-10 lead at the break.

O'Neill then got on the trysheet himself as Supermarine closed the gap early in the second half.

The champions, in patchy form, hit back with tries from Tony Iacono and prop Ed Minty, but Titcombe split the home defences again for a deserved try, the try going unconverted after a charge-down.

The hosts, though, had the final say as their other Minty brother, Tim, touched down for Brockhurst to convert.