Corsham denied by last gasp equaliser
CORSHAM missed the chance of maintaining a 100 per cent record in their league campaign as they let slip a lead to draw with Chippenham 3rds in Saturday's Dorset and Wilts Division 1 North encounter, the equalising score coming with the very last kick of the game.
With Chippenham 2nds without a Bristol Combination Merit Table fixture, the visitors swelled their ranks with second team players, and that certainly meant a tougher proposition for a Corsham team forced into a number of changes themselves.
The home side established a healthy enough 19-0 lead, however, and they looked to be heading towards a third straight league win before some questionable refereeing frustrated their efforts and conspired to allow Chippenham back into the game in the latter stages.
Corsham's opening try came from stand-in scrum-half Craig Avent, following a blindside break from Mick Mealing. Skipper and fly half Haydn Brockhurst converted.
Chippenham, after a spell of persistent offending while defending their line, then went unpunished when they appeared to illegally prevent a Corsham touchdown.
Soon after, back row Ian McNerlin went over from close range, but by that stage, Corsham's frustrations had been raised.
Avent, surprisingly the only player to be sin-binned during the game, then released second row Tim Minty to go over for Corsham's third try in the second half.
In the face of a rising, and questionable, penalty count, Corsham's grip on the game began to be loosened. Countering with three tries from their wingers, the Chippenham outfit hit back to pinch a point.
The final try was also contentious, with the player appearing to have his foot in touch.
The decision stood, and from wide out on the touchline an impressive conversion snatched the draw
