March 28, 2026
Today saw Fatbear make his first visit of the season to Chippenham Rugby Club, which was also their last home game of the regular season. Today’s visitors were Trowbridge who ironically, were the opponents for the last game seen by Fatbear at Allington Fields, in March last year.
2025/26 Season
Trowbridge came into this game having clinched the division title last Saturday. A 68-24 home win over Witney coupled with Chippenham’s 17-19 defeat at Thornbury left Trowbridge 11 points clear of second placed Chippenham with only two rounds of fixtures remaining to be played.
Trowbridge had impressively won all but one of their 20 games played so far this season, with the only set-back being a 28-31 defeat at Longlevens in February.
Chippenham had a 16-1-3 record to be four points ahead of third placed Cleve, and were 100% at home. In addition to last week’s loss at Thornbury, their other defeats had been 26-27 at Trowbridge and 40-56 at Cleve. A 22-22 draw had been played at Old Centralians.
The RFU have introduced promotion and relegation play-off at all levels for this season although no-one seems to be too sure as to exactly how they will work. Fatbear’s understanding is that for this league it will be 2nd vs 5th and 3rd vs 4th in a one-off tie, with the two winners then playing for the right to play at either 9th or 10th place in the higher level Regional 1 South-West in a single match.
Based on the positions prior today, the play-off games would be Chippenham vs Newbury and Cleve vs Keynsham, although Old Cents, Thornbury and Longlevens could still sneak into 5th place. The surviving side would then play at either Sidmouth or Chew Valley. It is thought this would based on the closest match geographically, so in this scenario that would be Chew Valley, who are based just outside of Bristol. Of course, the league placings could change between now and the end of the season, and the RFU could make some other decisions !
Previous Meetings
Games between these two local rivals are invariably close. As mentioned above the first meeting this season saw Trowbridge victorious by one point.
In the corresponding fixture last season, Chippenham were leading 27-16 with time 79 minutes on the clock, but then conceded three tries in the closing moments to give Trowbridge a get out of jail 35-27 win. Chippenham had won the reverse fixture 22-17.
This was the third time Fatbear had seen these two sides play, in September 2021 Trowbridge were again the victors with a 33-22 win.
Chippenham Squad Update
New recruits to the Chippenham squad for this season include full-back John Rumsey from Chobham, prop Leo Palmer from Old Sulians, lock Kieran Edgar from Trafford MV, and scrum-half Thomas Fogarty had returned to the club from Old Redcliffians. Number 8 Iestyn Asher was a current Dorset and Wiltshire Under 20 player.
Trowbridge Squad Update
Of the newcomers to the Trowbridge squad this season were ex-Clifton full-back Alex Kilbane, ex-Old Redcliffians number 8 Kacey Pike, and lock Olly Bilton was previously with Dings Crusaders.
Matchday Information
According to AA route planner, the journey from Trowbridge to Chippenham is 13 miles and should take 24 minutes.
The weather at the 15.00 kick-off was sunny with blue skies but a stiff breeze, and with temperatures at 9 degrees.
Admission was free as were the programmes. The clubhouse was packed on our arrival with 100+ diners enjoying pre-match hospitality, and quite a few may not have seen the match !
One new innovation since Fatbear’s previous visit was a stall with a local butcher selling burgers and chips outside the clubhouse and looked to be doing good business. Fatbear was tempted to sample but resisted !
Trowbridge made four changes to the side that won the league last weekend, selecting prop Jack Davies, lock Gareth Davies, flanker Rory Murchison and centre Sam Harrison, with Jaden Ephgrave, Max Day, Ben Mallett and Alex Murchison missing out. Seven of the side played in last season’s game at Chippenham.
Chippenham made three changes to the side that narrowly lost at Thornbury. Chris Cook replaced the injured John Rumsey at full-back and current Dorset and Wiltshire Under 20 Callum Angel was in at centre instead of the injured Archie Healey. Salah also was selected at number 8, Alex not Mo, and Jamie Webb was dropped to the 2nds. 10 of the matchday squad of 18 players were home-grown.
Trowbridge were playing in a kit of dark blue shirts with thin yellow and light blue hoops, and dark blue shorts. Chippenham were playing in their usual black and white hoops with red trimmings, with black shorts and black and white socks, which was a bit of a colour clash.
Match Report
Chippenham kicked off with the breeze, and Trowbridge cleared back for a line-out on their 10-metre line. Chippenham threw low to the front of the line-out, and centre Will Hendy made a break to the Trowbridge 22 but was stopped by a good tackle. Trowbridge won a penalty at the subsequent ruck and kicked to halfway.
Trowbridge won their line-out but Chippenham won turnover ball and lock Edgar made a break into the Trowbridge 22, and just when it looked like Chippenham must score, the ball was knocked on to give Trowbridge the put in to a scrum 5 metres from their line. A good shove by the Chippenham pack saw them awarded a scrum, but then Trowbridge were awarded a penalty at the next scrum.
Trowbridge won their line-out ball through lock Gareth Davis and number 8 Pike made a break to the Chippenham 10 metre line, but a box-kick from scrum-half Ali Lane sailed directly into touch.
Asher won the line-out for Chippenham on their 10-metre line but the referee deemed the throw to be not straight.
In the 8th minute Kyle Oakley won a line-out for Trowbridge and Pike made another break up to the Chippenham 10 metre line but Chippenham force a turnover at the ruck, and had the put in at resulting scrum. Fly-half Jack Smith chipped ahead from the Chippenham scrum but Will Hendy was unable to gather cleanly and Trowbridge full-back Kilbane picked up and ran back to the Chippenham 10 metre line.
Smith knocked on from a Chippenham scrum to give Trowbridge a scrum, from which Pike picked up and ran to the Chippenham 22 until being stopped. Trowbridge fly-half Tom Weaver chipped to the far corner where Chippenham winger George Brooks made the catch but was bundled into touch. However, Chippenham had been caught offside, and despite the penalty being in front of the posts, Trowbridge kicked to have a 5-metre line-out.
The throw was to the front of the line-out for Davis to catch, and a short pass went to fellow lock Olly Bilton, who crashed through a weak tackle and over the line for the opening score of the game. The touchline conversion from Weaver was held-up in the wind, so the score was 0-5 with 14 minutes played.
Shortly after the restart, Smith went on a jinking run, only to eventually run into a dead-end. When Chippenham recycled possession, Smith made another break and fed Salah, and received a return pass, then moved the ball onto Hendy, who dropped the ball 5 metres from the tryline. However, a penalty advantage had been played, which Chippenham kicked to 5 metres.
Lock Ed Hendy won the line-out for Chippenham but the rolling maul was halted. Scrum-half Fogarty took the ball off his forwards and snipped through a gap to score. Cook missed with the conversion so it was 5-5 after 19 minutes.
Chippenham made another break in the middle of the park through Angell but the attempted pass to Salah went to ground. Salah was able to gather, but his pass intended for his winger went directly into touch for a scrum to Trowbridge.
Trowbridge attempted to run out of their 22 but centre Sam Harrison was flattened by a strong tackle from Chippenham back-row forward Louis Healy. Lane attempted a clearing kick but Asher was able to charge down, collect the bouncing ball, then side-stepped past a covering defender for a solo score. Cook’s conversion drifted wide leaving the score 10-5 after 22 minutes.
The Trowbridge restart didn’t go 10 metres but Chippenham caught the ball and ran back into the Trowbridge half but were pinged at the subsequent ruck, enabling Trowbridge to kick into the Chippenham 22. At this point a few drops of hail started to fall.
Trowbridge won their lineout and Pike stormed towards the Chippenham line but was stopped just short. However, another forward was in support and burrowed over close to the uprights. Weaver added the easy conversion to bring the score to 10-12 with 26 minutes on the clock.
Another Chippenham line-out was not straight and after a Trowbridge scrum, Weaver kicked into the Chippenham 22, but Brooks was back covering and the home side won a scrum inside their 22. Chippenham then won a penalty at a ruck, and kicked to just outside the Trowbridge 22. Asher won the line-out but the attempted chip ahead was overhit and the ball went dead for a 22 metre drop-out for Trowbridge and a good chase from the kick saw Chippenham wing Danny Sugg tackled into touch.
Trowbridge spread the ball from their lineout and ex-Chippenham winger Alex Christopher scorched down the touchline and into the Chippenham 22 but the referee brought play back, judging that the pass from Kilbane had been forward.
Smith and Angell combined in midfield for Chippenham but an offload was intercepted. The referee appeared to award a penalty to the home side only to reverse it after some back chat, and Trowbridge were able to take play up to the Chippenham 10 metre line. This time it was Trowbridge who were guilty of a not straight throw.
Smith sent a kick bouncing deep into the Trowbridge 22 with the ball stopping just by the corner flag. Kilbane was forced to play the ball and was clattered into for his troubles. Desperate defending by Trowbridge resulted in a penalty being awarded, and Chippenham took a quick tap and drove for the line. Several drives were defended, and when they tried to run Smith dropped the ball with Brooks in acres of space out wide.
Trowbridge had the scrum put-in but they were driven a few yards backwards following a good shove by the Chippenham pack, and Chippenham were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Rather than take the points with half-time fast approaching, Chippenham opt to take a tap and drive for the line. Again, several drives failed to find a way through the Trowbridge defence before the backs finally were presented with the ball, and passes from Smith and Cook enable Sugg to score in the corner. The conversion from Cook was again missed and the half-time whistle blew to leave the score at 15-12 at the interval.
Not much happened at the beginning of the second period until a Chippenham kick bounced into touch inside the Trowbridge half. Kilbane took a quick throw to himself, and although the ball bounced awkwardly, the Trowbridge full-back was able to gather and ran past 4 would-be tacklers and Trowbridge forced a penalty just inside the Chippenham half. After the replacement Chippenham hooker kicked the ball away, the referee marched Chippenham back 10 metres, and the kick took Trowbridge to 10 metres from the line.
Bilton won the line-out and Chippenham infringed at the rolling maul. Trowbridge kicked to 5 metres. Oakley won the line-out and the Trowbridge pack rumbled over the line. It wasn’t clear who had scored, possibly hooker Rhys Redman, but the touchline conversion narrowly missed at the near post. Trowbridge now led 17-15 with 45 minutes played.
Chippenham lock Ed Hendy made a bullocking run but after being brought to the ground, Trowbridge won a penalty. A bit of kick-tennis ensued until Oakley ran back up to the Chippenham 22 but the scrum was awarded to Chippenham.
Trowbridge were awarded a free-kick at the scrum and took a quick tap but the home side were given a penalty at the following ruck. Will Hendy made a break and Smith sent a bouncing kick into touch midway inside the Trowbridge half. However, the referee took play back for a penalty to Chippenham, which was kicked to virtually the same distance from the Trowbridge line, but on the other side of the pitch, and now with the line-out throw to Chippenham.
However, the line-out was messy and the tap from Healy went forward. Trowbridge cleared their lines and Sugg caught the high ball, but then dropped it as he started running. Trowbridge won a penalty at the scrum for the knock-on and they were back inside the Chippenham 22.
Chippenham stole the line-out and Smith made a break from inside his own 22, and Suggs redeemed himself by taking the pass and fending off Christopher to cross in the corner, and then ran around to touchdown under the posts for his second try of the day. Cross added the extras so Chippenham now led 22-17 after 53 minutes.
Trowbridge looked to hit back and Weaver chipped ahead deep into the Chippenham 22 but Hendy was covering and Fogarty was able make a clearing kick. Weaver was able to keep the ball in play and Trowbridge looked to run the ball. The referee awarded a scrum to the visitors on the Chippenham 22, at which they went down the narrow side. Lane fed Kilbane, who released Christopher to run for the corner but the wing was tackled just short of the line. However, Trowbridge were awarded a penalty, and so had a 5-metre line-out.
The Trowbridge throw was long but flanker Rory Murchison was able to catch and the Trowbridge forwards drove for the try. It appeared that the ball had been dropped over the tryline and the 5-metre scrum went to Chippenham. Salah picked up at the base of the scrum and went off on a run, and Hendy then made a length of the field break only to tackled a couple of yards short of the line.
Chippenham were awarded a penalty, and a quick tap from Fogarty saw the scrum-half force his way past Christopher and Pike to score. Cross made an excellent conversion from close to the touchline, as Chippenham extended their lead to 29-17 with 62 minutes played.
Chippenham were now full of confidence and moved the ball wide from the restart and won a penalty, which was kicked up to the Trowbridge 10 metre line. Chippenham ran from the line-out and won a penalty for a high tackle which took them to 5 metres. The line-out was secured through Asher, and substitute prop Jordan Brew scored from the rolling maul. The conversion drifted wide, with the score 34-17 after 68 minutes.
Play after the restart was messy, with a Chippenham dambuster pass, then a poor tap-back at a Chippenham line-out was bounced upon by a Trowbridge forward but the visitors squandered a promising position with a knock-on.
Salah won a Trowbridge line-out on the Chippenham 10 metre line and Smith’s kick bounced into touch outside the Trowbridge 22. Bilton won the line-out for Trowbridge and the ball was kicked back into the Chippenham half for Will Hendy to make an impressive break through the centre of the Trowbridge defence, only to be brought down by a tap tackle. Smith kicked a grubber for his backs to chase, but they were offside and Trowbridge had a penalty, which took them back to mid-way inside the Chippenham half.
The Trowbridge throw went long, and Chippenham fly-hacked the ball in to touch inside the Trowbridge 22. Play at a Trowbridge throw was again scrappy, and a scrum was awarded to the visitors. Kilbane set off on a run into the Chippenham half but Will Hendy made a great tackle. Trowbridge were awarded a penalty at the ruck, and a punch-up involving most of the players on both sides started. When everything had calmed down, Chippenham’s Cook was shown a yellow card with a couple of minutes of play remaining.
Trowbridge had a line-out inside the Chinnor 22, and an attacking move featuring Oakley, Harrison and Redman ended with an offload by Christopher going forward. However, the referee had been playing an advantage. More pressure yielded another penalty, and Trowbridge were now 5 metres from the line. The line-out was won and the rolling maul made its way over the whitewash, and Redman emerged with the ball. Weaver missed with the conversion and the game ended with the final score 34-22.
Trowbridge fell to their second defeat of the season whilst Chippenham maintained their 100% home record. The projected play-offs remained unchanged after today’s results, although Old Cents, Thornbury and Longlevens were now out of the equation. Also, Fatbear had finally seen Chippenham beat Trowbridge !
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