FAIRFORD Town manager Gareth Davies was full of praise for his New College Swindon counterparts as they made his side fight for all three points in the local derby.

In wet and windy conditions at Supermarine Rugby Club, Matt Cosnett's side set up with a game plan of stifling the Division One West leaders.

It was a ploy that worked for the opening half an hour but Davies' side remained patient and their breakthrough came in the 39th minute when Jason Milhench collected the ball on the edge of the box before sliding it under the body of the on-rushing College keeper.

The hosts failed to drop their heads and there were some anxious moments for the league leaders before top scorer Lee Smith finished off a good team goal to wrap up the three points in the 90th minute.

"I thought New College obviously had a plan and I thought they did really well," said Davies, whose side now have a 10-point gap at the summit, with seven league games remaining.

"They defended in numbers and made it difficult for us.

"With the weather, it was not a pretty sight and we had to be patient and bide our time and when the weather started to turn, we knew we had to take our chance.

"Jason took his goal very well in the first half and after we got the first one, we just relaxed a little bit.

"We did okay in the second half and we got the second goal and that just killed the game off.

"At this stage of the season, we're not too fussed about the performance - I will take winning ugly, even if it comes off someone's backside.

"Everybody wants to beat you when you are at the top and a lot of the time, you have to be patient.

"They will always create something and when we do create chances, nine times out of 10, we take them.

"It's about having our heads down and getting the results at this stage."

Meanwhile, Michael McNally's Shrivenham salvaged a point on the road as they drew 1-1 with Cheltenham Saracens.

After a scrappy first half, the hosts took the lead at Petersfield Park in the 65th minute when Carl Griffiths volleyed home a delivery from Dan Gittings.

However, in time added on, Shrivenham ensured they would return with at least a point to their name when Lee Brown bundled the ball home, before surviving a late shout for a penalty from the hosts.