ROYAL Wootton Bassett will be looking to make it two wins from three South West One East matches in eight days when they travel to Marlow on Saturday.

Bassett pushed title-chasing Banbury close on Wednesday night before slipping in the second half to fall to a 24-10 defeat, having previously thrashed bottom side Grove 47-7 at home at the weekend.

Alan Low’s side are currently eighth in the table with two games of the season remaining, but could finish as high as fifth if they end the campaign with back-to-back victories.

Bassett put in a brave performance at second-placed Banbury in midweek and managed to take the lead into half-time in Oxfordshire, only for the hosts to battle back in the second half to secure the points.

Banbury started well and a period of forward pressure was rewarded when a drive saw the ball bundled over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Bassett hit back immediately when a run and chip from full-back Fin Dewar saw the referee award a penalty for obstruction, which fly-half Tom Fieldsend struck to reduce the deficit to two points.

Dewar was then sent to the sin-bin for a one-handed knock-on but this seem to spur the visitors on and the Bassett pack retained possession to camp in the Banbury half.

A number of attacks on the Banbury line were thwarted by solid defence before veteran prop Chris Rowland took a switch pass to power over under the posts, with Fieldsend’s conversion handing Bassett a 10-5 lead at the interval.

After the break, Banbury started to show some of the form that has taken them within range of promotion and a forward drive resulted in a converted try to put the hosts 12-10 in front.

Bassett’s hopes were then hurt by two yellow cards as they attempted to thwart the Banbury charge, which allowed the hosts to add two further tries to secure a bonus-point victory.

Elsewhere, Swindon go hunting a seventh win from eight matches in their local derby away at Chippenham, although the Greenbridge Road side face a tough test as their Wiltshire rivals currently sit third in the table.

Swindon College Old Boys will look to end their seven-match losing streak in Southern Counties South when they host high-flying Sherborne.

Finally, Supermarine travel to Chippenham 2nd seeking back-to-back victories in Dorset & Wilts One North.