MARLBOROUGH remain in with a chance of a runners-up finish in South West One East following a fourth successive win at the weekend.

The Common side roared to a dominant 51-19 success away at bottom side Stratford upon Avon to stay fourth in the table.

However, they are just four points adrift of second-placed Old Centralians – and one shy of Banbury in third – heading into Saturday’s final round of fixtures.

Marlborough can overhaul that deficit and finish second behind champions Newbury Blues with a bonus-point win over county rivals Swindon, although they will also need both Old Cents and Banbury to lose on home turf.

Elsewhere, Chippenham lost a thrilling encounter away at near neighbours Swindon, going down 41-40.

Chippenham led 33-17 at half-time, but the hosts upped the tempo in the second half to mount a brave fightback before snatching the win with a penalty in the closing stages.

Brad Doggett ran in a brace of tries for the visitors, with Charlie Palmer, Ben Riley, Conor Beer, Jacob Unwin also getting over the whitewash, while the latter also added 10 points with the boot.

Chippenham are currently ninth in the table ahead of this weekend’s final game at home to Trowbridge, who confirmed their safety from relegation with a 35-34 victory at home to Beaconsfield.

Finally, Royal Wootton Bassett lost for the sixth game in a row when they were beaten 24-17 at home by Old Centralians.

Dan Hale and Tom Fieldsend both scored tries, with seven points from the tee taking the latter’s tally to 12 for the day.

The Ballards Ash side cannot move from their current position of fifth in the table in their final fixture away at Oxford Harlequins.