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Search forBarum slip to fifth defeat in a row
Saturday, November 15, 2008, 19:10
Chippenham won 34-20 this afternoon to climb above Barum, who now lie 10th in the 12-team league, just two points above bottom side Oxford Harlequins.
But at least this week Barnstaple could draw comfort from a committed performance following the previous Saturday's home defeat to Cleve, which was branded unacceptable by director of rugby Kevin Squire.
"We're absolutely devastated, but at least the performance was there this week," said Squire after today's defeat in Wiltshire.
"We don't feel as bad as last week because we performed well. We played very well at times."
Barnstaple made a strong start and took the lead on four minutes. Scrum-half Ian Wilson scampered over from 10 metres after a series of rucks, and fellow loan signing Max Venables kicked the conversion.
Chippenham were level five minutes later, though, when Carl Brunt converted a try by Gary Champion.
The turning point of the game came on 34 minutes when Barnstaple back-rower James Lewis was sin-binned.
Chippenham cashed in on the advantage — although it took them a while to make full use of it.
After Brunt converted an Andy Price try to put the hosts 14-7 up, impressive fly-half Venables responded with a penalty and wing Mark Galliford finished a training-ground move to give 14-man Barum the lead at 15-14.
But Chippenham worked an overlap in first-half stoppage-time and Rupert Crockett crossed for a try converted by Brunt, putting them 21-15 up at the break.
Price and Champion crossed for their second tries as Chippenham built a 31-15 lead in the second half.
Barnstaple full-back Paul Scheres scored from a backs move to cause the hosts some concern.
But they confirmed their superiority with a penalty from in front of the posts.
TWO TRIES: Chippenham's Gary Champion.
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