DEPLETED Melksham maintained their pursuit of second place in Dorset & Wilts One North as they clinched a bonus-point from their derby trip.

Melksham hit the ground running with a break from James Reeves in the fifth minute.

He offloaded to Rob Escott in support for the first try, converted by Simon Foster.

Five minutes later they were off again with a pick up from the back of the scrum by Nick Suter through the hands to Ben Wilkinson and on again to the captain on the day Dave Dyke to score.

The visitors continued to pile on the pressure with a try out wide from winger Gareth Evans but the hosts began to rally and got across the whitewash themselves before half time A further unconverted Chippenham try followed after half time but when the ball was coughed up from a lineout, Suter went in for his first try on returning to the team, the extras added by Foster.

Chippenham were rewarded with a late try but Melksham skipper Dyke said: “Credit to all the team, the lads stepped up and came a way with a bonus point win in a tough game.''