MARLBOROUGH resumed their South West One East campaign with a narrow 38-33 defeat at home to Wiltshire rivals Trowbridge last weekend.

The visitors began on the front foot and scored a try inside two minutes, though the conversion was missed. Having been woken up by the early try, Marlborough immediately responded and took the lead when scrum-half Jake Williams converted his own run under the posts.

The first-half scoring continued when Trowbridge re-took the lead with a converted try before adding five more points shortly after.

In a game that Marlborough rarely got a handle on, the hosts’ Kane Marafono dotted down to reduce the deficit only to see Trowbridge notch another converted try before the break.

The Common outfit was able to show Trowbridge what they are capable of in the moments prior to half-time when Jimmy Adams beat the visitors’ last two defenders before crossing the whitewash to give Marlborough a 26-25 lead.

Marlborough could not hold onto their advantage until half-time though, with Trowbridge splitting the posts with a penalty in the 41st minute.

The seesaw nature of the contest continued into the second half when Williams crossed for his second try of the game. The scrum-half faked a pass outside before spotting a gap and sprinting through the Trowbridge defence.

Unfortunately for the Common side, Marlborough were unable to add any further points as Trowbridge took advantage of any and all errors by the hosts.

Two more unconverted tries saw Trowbridge home by five as Marlborough slipped to 10th in the table.

Elsewhere in South West One East, Chippenham lost 13-9 at home to Bracknell as the club’s search for a first win of the season continues into an eighth game.

In South West Premier, Royal Wootton Bassett suffered a high-scoring defeat to Ivybridge.

A slow start by the visitors ended up costing Alan Low’s side dear as Bassett lost 56-31 in Devon.

Meanwhile, in Southern Counties South, Swindon maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a pulsating 30-28 success away at Yeovil. Defeat was Yeovil’s first of the campaign.

Devizes joined Swindon as the only other team to have won all four games thanks to a crushing 40-14 win at Avonvale.

Swindon College Old Boys lost 18-27 at home to Swanage & Wareham to remain in 10th place.