CHIPPENHAM roared to their biggest win of the South West One East season on Saturday when they ran in 10 tries to sweep aside bottom side Stratford Upon Avon 66-10.

The victory eclipses the 60-22 success recorded by the Allington Fields side at home to county rivals Salisbury back in November.

It is also likely to have sealed them a top-10 finish as Chippenham now hold a 10-point cushion over Trowbridge down in 11th place with just two rounds of fixtures remaining this term.

Chippenham made a dominant start against struggling Stratford and scored two converted tries inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

Charlie Palmer was first to strike, running in from 45m after the visitors made a mess of a lineout, and he was swiftly followed over the whitewash by Rowan O’Brien. Oli Alcon converted both scores.

Stratford then enjoyed a good spell of their own, but the hosts dug in well to keep them out before breaking clear to increase their advantage through Tom Fogerty’s touchdown, again converted by Alcorn.

Chippenham were able to make sure of the bonus point before half-time – and they had actually taken their try tally to five courtesy of a brace from Bradley Doggett. Alcorn added one kick to make it 33-0 at the break.

Alcorn was to the fore as the second half got under way, running in two tries himself alongside one conversion in the opening exchanges.

Conor Beer was the man to get Chippenham to the half-century mark, diving under the posts for the hosts’ eighth try of the day. Alcorn added the extras.

The hour mark had passed before Stratford got themselves on the scoreboard through an unconverted try, but Chippenham were soon back on the attack and Doggett ran in their next score to complete his hat-trick. Jacob Unwin took over duties from the tee and safely converted.

Stratford replied with their second unconverted try of the game, but the hosts had the final word on the day by taking their try tally to 10.

The ball was spread wide along the back-line for Fogerty to crash over the whitewash, with Unwin’s successful kick bringing an excellent Chippenham performance to a close.

Elsewhere, Marlborough assured themselves of a top-four finish as they made it three wins on the bounce with a 45-32 success at home to Salisbury.

By contrast, Royal Wootton Bassett’s losing run stretched to a fifth game as they went down 25-17 away at champions Newbury Blues.

The two Wiltshire sides’ contrasting form has seen fourth-placed Marlborough build up a 14-point gap over Bassett immediately below them – a deficit that cannot be overhauled over the final two rounds of the season.

Finally, Trowbridge have now gone four games without a win after being crushed 62-12 away at third-in-the-table Banbury.