MARLBOROUGH returned to winning ways in Southern Counties South with a seven-try 39-20 over struggling Swanage & Wareham.

The game started poorly for the home side when Swanage applied early pressure and capitalised on a mistake to score after only three minutes.

But the home side soon replied when Ben Caravou ran in to score after good work by Mitieli Vulikijapani in the centre.

After 23 minutes the game opened up and a kick through by Swanage was caught under his posts by Joeli Radovu.

He then ran the ball back the full length of the pitch to score under the opposition posts.

Swanage with an unconverted try to level matters and the two sides then scored another try each, the Marlborough one coming from a Swanage kick through caught by Radovu on his 10 metre line before he ran back 60 metres to score.

The final score of the half went to Vulikijapani who caught a clearance kick and stepped a couple of defenders to score, Caravou landing the first conversion of the afternoon for a 22-15 lead for the home team.

The second half saw Radovu score his second and Vulikijapani add his third, either side of a Swanage try in the corner.

The final try of the game came from a pushover try by Jack Lynd, while Amori Nailago ran the game from fly-half and Lemeki Moala delivered a fine defensive display.

Corsham are a point behind Marlborough in fourth place after a 36-22 victory over bottom side Blandford in Dorset.

The visitors scored six tries Adam Draper crossing for a brace and Wes Newson, Adam Jamieson, Ben Russell and Liam Snape also touching down. Matt Draper booted three conversions.

Corsham head coach Tim Draper said: "In the first half we played some of our best attacking rugby so far this season to be 22-0 up at half time with four excellent tries.

"We switched off defensively in the second half. The game became quite loose and Blandford deserve credit for scoring some good tries.

"We were unlucky to only score two tries in the second half as we crossed the line another three or four times, but it was great to see the team's hard work at training being rewarded by their performance in the game.''

n DEVIZES saw their home match against Bath side Walcot postponed with areas of their London Road pitch unplayable.