BRADFORD on Avon coach Dave George believes the next five weeks could go a long way to determining his side’s Southern Counties South fate this season.

George’s men clinched only their second league victory of the season in Saturday’s derby at Ashley Lane to keep their hopes of pulling clear from the relegation trapdoor very much alive.

Although it remains to be seen how many sides will take the drop, with the likelihood of more league restructuring at the end of the season, finishing above their current second-from-bottom position is a must for Bradford.

Home appointments with Dorchester, Midsomer Norton and rock-bottom Supermarine, as well as away days at Frome and North Dorset – all sides in the mid to lower regions of the table – up until the end of February, offer the opportunity to accrue more valuable points.

George, whose side scored five tries to claim a bonus point against Corsham said: “I think we’re starting to find our feet in this division (they were promoted last year).

“We do want to stay up, it would be important for the club and if we could win a couple more games we could take it from there.’’ Of Saturday’s win he added: “It’s been coming. We’ve kept the spirit high among the players and if we can keep that going when we play the sides around us, it givces us a good chance.

Returning front row Dave Lamplough opened the scoring for the home side, who missed all their attempted conversions in strong winds, before Geraint Thomas marked a superb play in the second row with a score of his own.

Scrum-half Tom Wheatley added a third try before half time with a blindside break before Corsham pulled one back, 17 year old wing Ryan Jones touching down Almost straight from the restart, Tom King set up Andy Kehoe for Bradford’s bonus-point score and skipper Ed Dawson, back from a skiing trip, ran in the fifth try from 20 metres.

Corsham responded through Chris Bull, with Ollie Deane adding a conversion for the visitors.

l MELKSHAM slipped to a 27-10 defeat in Dorset & Wilts One North at Devizes 2nd.

Trailing 15-0 at half time, the visitors rallied until their prop Simon Watts suffered a serious leg injury which halted the game for a time.

Dave Dyke scored two tries for Melksham.