BRADFORD on Avon took a firm grip at the top of the Dorset & Wilts One North table as they felled nearest rivals Combe Down in Bath 22-7.

The visitors fell behind to an early converted try but were back on level terms when number eight Oli Bilton went over under the posts and centre Josh Felix added the conversion.

The home side's fortunes didn't improve when they were reduced to 14 men via a red card and Felix later crossed for a try and added a penalty to stretch the Ashley Lane men clear.

Full-back Murray Dewar delivered the icing on the cake as he fielded a long Down kick and ran it back the length of the pitch, Felix's conversion wrapping up a comfortable triumph.

Bradford head coach Dave George said: "It was a good game but although they had a man sent off, I don't think that was the difference between the two teams.

"I felt we were better in all aspects of the game.''

Warminster lost more ground as they slipped to their second successive defeat, with Melksham claiming the spoils from their west Wiltshire derby 34-15.

The visitors opened the scoring as Sam Couch collected a chip to touch down, Jimmy Rees adding the extras, but the hard-running Matt Glover helped Melksham to restore parity as Callum Hurn landed the conversion.

Handling errors from both sides dogged the first half, the hosts compounding matters giving away a penalty in their own 22 to allow Rees to boot Warminster into a half-time lead.

Melksham gradually found their momentum in the second half, Hurn slotting between the posts from a penalty to level before winger Luke Cador outpaced the Warminster defence to score, Hurn adding the extras.

Minutes later Hurn hit another well-struck penalty to take the home team clear by two scores.

Warminster had picked up their game, but centre Kieran Jenkins crashed through to score for the home side, Hurn kicking the conversion.

Then Melksham captain Charlie Radcliffe burst forward to score the bonus point try, Hurn converting, before Warminster earned a consolation score through Stephen Rowbotham.