CRICKLADE got the better of Malmesbury 15-7 in a 14-a-side friendly.

Injuries and absentees meant both sides were lacking key players, with visiting Cricklade also lending their opponents three forwards to make up the numbers.

Malmesbury's three-quarters ran possession across the field to give Rob Gow a gap to score.

David Worker came up with a magnificent conversion, judging the wind to perfection, but later missed a penalty.

And Cricklade played their way back into it with a try when Jason Johnson was pushed over the line in the right-hand corner, Dave Gee's conversion being blown off target.

The visitors began the second session as they ended the first, Cricklade to winning a lineout for Mark Hoskins to ground the ball.

CHIPPENHAM 3rd were defeated 24-0 by Devizes 2nd, who scored tries through Liam Young, Mark Davies and Matt Monkton in their latest Merit Table fixture.