Injury-ravaged Thornbury went down to their second home defeat of the season at the hands of high-flying Chippenham.

The Thorns were outplayed by their visitors but did manage five tries of their own to secure a losing bonus-point. 

First-blood actually went to the home side as after many phases in the Chippenham half,  Luke Panting spun out of a tackle and scored the opening try in the corner. Jack Pinker’s conversion missed by a whisker.

But their joy was short-lived as Chippenham's forwards applied constant pressure on the Thornbury line and their centre scored a converted try.

However, Thorns regained the lead as the second quarter began and after a period of great continuity, Evans broke down the narrow side of a ruck on the Chippenham line to score. Pinker’s boot made it 12-7.

It was a topsy-turvy affair and Chippenham regained the lead when Thorns’ tackling let them down and the scrum half scored a second converted try.

Then, as the half-hour mark was reached, the game changed. Thorns were falling off their first-up tackles and Chippenham began to waltz through. They scored three tries in a crazy five-minute spell to secure the bonus point and effectively seal the win at 33-12.

Thorns responded well at the beginning of the second period to give them some hope when Evans powered through the Chippenham defence on the visitors’ ‘22’ before Will Beese raced in for a fine try to make it 33-19.

Despite Chippenham scoring again, Thorns hit back when Pinker secured a loose ball and after Panting put Jack Oakey clear, George Jackson drove over for the bonus point try.

More power play from Chippenham saw them score two more tries but with the game lost, Thorns attacked and scored next when following a powerful scrum Ben Wood showed great determination to score another unconverted try.

But Chippenham had the last word with their ninth try from a lineout on the Thornbury line and the final whistle blew at 29-59.