TROWBRIDGE'S battling performance brought them only a losing bonus point as Grove snatched victory late on in their South West One East clash.

The visitors were forced into making changes from the original selected XV, Dan Phillips pulling out due to a knee injury, and scrum-half George Leat unavailable, with Ollie Weaver and Henry Turner coming in.

The stalemate was eventually broken after 20 minutes when, from a scrum on half way, Trowbridge moved the ball along the backs to George Fowles on the left wing then back inside to full-back Ieuan Turner allowing right wing Ashley Chalk to cross the line out wide.

Trowbridge's defence held firm until Grove forced an overlap to put full back Archie Van Dijk in to score, scrum-half Joe Chilvers missing the conversion.

Trowbridge responded well, forcing the home side back until they were rewarded with a five metre scrum and were able to push the Grove pack back over their own line, Mark Durant getting the touchdown.

With the heavy pitch starting to take a toll on both packs, the second-half pace was slow until, midway through the half, Grove centre Sam Allan broke the Trowbridge defence to run 40 metres under the posts, Chilvers making no mistake with the conversion.

Trowbridge spread the ball wide at every opportunity were unlucky not to score on two occasions with Chalk and Turner both being stopped just short, having to settle for a penalty that Joe Knight kicked to put them back into the lead.

However, they were undone by the Grove backs in the last minute, right wing Brendan White getting through to score in the corner.