Corsham claim derby honours
Corsham put behind them a couple of weeks of indifferent form to beat third-placed Calne 38-7 in Saturday's Dorset and Wilts Division One North encounter at Lacock Road.
In truth, the margin of victory could have been greater had it not been for the odd basic mistake by the home side.
Corsham once again dominated up front but the threequarters provided a cutting edge missing of late and that proved enough to see off a spirited Calne in what was a hard-fought derby match.
Centre and man of the match Nik Denham opened the home side's scoring when his angle of running took him through the Calne cover for the first touchdown, converted by skipper Haydn Brockhurst.
Back row Ian McNerlin crashed through for a second try and centre Chris Walker profited from a kick-through to add a third score, both tries converted by fly-half Brockhurst.
With a 21-0 lead at the break, Corsham continued their dominance and No 8 Mick Mealing capped an impressive game with a fourth try.
Calne doubled their efforts, however, and with Corsham at times spurning the chance to clear their lines, the visitors mounted a spell of pressure. The home side were forced into a mistake and fly-half James Gladding was quick to pounce on a loose ball and he darted through to touch down.
The try only served to reawaken Corsham and they responded with the best try of the game - the forwards secured ball in their own half and after a couple of phases, Denham and full-back Craig Avent carried the ball deep into the Calne half. An inside ball found McNerlin and he in turn fed supporting scrum-half Chris Jones for the touchdown.
Brockhurst added the two points from in front of the posts but that was to be his last action as he was sin-binned soon after for denying Calne the ball at a penalty award.
Corsham, though, defended their line resolutely and they capped victory with a try in the final five minutes when Chris Ferris was released inside his own half. The winger showed his paces as he raced up the right touchline, and cut inside the cover on his way to the tryline.
