TROWBRIDGE were dragged back into the relegation mire on Saturday after a disappointing loss to improving Dorchester at Green Lane.

Barry Coombs' men have been walking a tight-rope between Southern Counties safety and Dorset and Wilts obscurity for the last few weeks and this defeat leaves them needing two wins to be certain of survival.

A defiant Coombs has promised to fight tooth and nail to keep his club above water and is hoping to sink his rivals with back-to-back league wins in the next three weeks.

He said: "It's not all over yet. We've got Blandford in two weeks' time, which is an easy game on paper. But we will have one or two key players missing and they are playing at home so it will be tough.

"I think it's all going to hinge on the Cooper-Avon game on the last day of the season. Let's hope for a typical, flowing derby match, but without any sendings-off this time.

"It looks like three teams might go down this year so whatever happens it's going to be an exciting end to the season."

Trowbridge began Saturday's match brightly when wing forward Jon Parfitt dived over to score an unconverted try after five minutes.

Despite a barrage of pressure on the Dorchester line, Trowbridge were unable to add to their tally and the visitors hit back with a penalty from Richie Bament after 20 minutes.

The home side were weakened when key centre Adam Sullivan was carried off with a leg injury that could bring a premature end to his season. Dorchester took swift advantage, centre Jo Morris punishing a Trowbridge mistake to score under the posts. Bament kicked the extras.

Morris added another five-point score for Dorchester before Trowbridge winger Joe Knight answered for the hosts with an unconverted try on the stroke of half-time.

Two quick Bament penalties at the start of the second half extended the visitors lead to 21-10. The home team were further depleted when second row Nick Lawes left the field with a knee injury in the final quarter. Having used all of their replacements Trowbridge were forced to battle on with 14 men.

Dorchester clinched victory when the impressive Matt Joseph crossed the whitewash in the closing stages.

Trowbridge travel to Corsham tomorrow for the eagerly-awaited quarter final of the Bath Combination Plate.

Coombs said: "Both teams want to end their season with a final at The Rec, so we will be going all out to win that one."