MARLBOROUGH saw their brief return to form the previous week ended in emphatic style on Saturday after losing 38-19 to second place Banbury in South West One East.

Following a first win in two months against Wimborne, Marlborough set about trying to return to the kind of form that saw them fighting for a promotion place earlier on in the campaign against Banbury.

Yet a trying performance would ultimately come up short as the hosts fell back to a record of 8-8 in the league.

Saturday’s game started quite evenly before eventually Banbury broke through and scored a try which was converted.

Marlborough player-coach Taufa’ao Filise then had to come off the pitch due to accidentally clashing heads with a teammate while tackling a Banbury player.

The visitors scored another try which was converted before Marlborough touched down for their first try of the game prior to half-time.

The hosts ought to have been buoyed by their pre-half-time try, however Marlborough started slowly and paid the price for their sluggishness.

Banbury put 10 more points on the board before the home side could reply once again through front row wrecking ball Lemeki Moala.

Marlborough managed to score another try soon after, however Will Grant was unable to convert his own score.

With the score at 24-19, Marlborough still had hopes of shocking Banbury.

However, Banbury ran away with two further tries, which were both converted, to emerge comfortable winners in the end.

Elsewhere, Royal Wootton Bassett cruised to a 30-17 victory away at Salisbury while Chippenham were soundly beaten 63-17 away at Buckingham.

Trowbridge fell 20-7 at home to Old Patesians.