CHIPPENHAM coach Hentie Martens admits his side have to get to grips scrummaging problems if National South West Three survival is to be ensured.

Martens’ men lost a relegation battle at home to Weston to leave them facing another crucial contest, at rock-bottom Maidenhead on Saturday.

The former Bath man said: “We’re struggling in the srummage and it’s a problem for us. We have to try and sort it out because we’re quite poor in that area at the moment.

“Other than that, I thought the guys played quite well in patches, but when you are down where we are, things go against you.

“We need a result at Maidenhead, but I’m not going to put the emphasis on that to the boys because that’s when they get tense.

“It’s important they go our and play rugby.’’ Scores either side of half time paved the way for the visitors’ victory.

Weston took the lead through an early penalty but the home side responded with a well-worked try.

Left wing Dave Slee showed a fine sleight of hand to flip the ball inside to Gary Champion, over from the opposite wing, to go over.

Full-back Dom Riccio’s conversion was inches wide but the home pack were coming under increasing pressure. Weston tried to turn the screw but spurned a couple of opportunities close to the line.

Eventually though, referee Tom Foley decided Chippenham had transgressed once too often and sin-binned lock Adie Price.

Weston capitalised and Andy Richards ploughed over before the break for a converted score.

More forward pressure allowed Dan Fry to repeat the trick for the visitors immediately upon the restart.

Trailing 17-5, Chippenham responded well and Weston prop David Price was next into the sin-bin. The hosts should have scored from a two-man overlap, while John Boddington went close with a drive.

Eventually, quick-thinking from a tapped penalty while Weston backs were turned sent Jon Squire over in the corner.

But Riccio was unable to convert and any hopes of a fightback were ended as wing Paul Sprague crossed.

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