Trowbridge 17 Oldfield Old Boys 24

TROWBRIDGE lost a fiery encounter at Green Lane on Saturday which saw both sides finish with 13 men.

Hooker Matt Dudman and left wing Matthew Dowling were both sentenced to early baths as Trowbridge failed in an exciting comeback bid.

Oldfield had their centre and a second row forward dismissed for violent conduct in a match littered with stoppages.

Trowbridge flanker and former skipper Barry Coombs believes the referee lost control in the second half.

He said: "In my opinion the referee was a little quick to reach for his pocket.

"I don't think it was a particularly violent match. Rugby players like to act hard but I didn't see any punches thrown out there.

"The referee was being assessed on Saturday and maybe that put pressure on him to apply the letter of the law."

Oldfield raced into a 24-0 lead by half-time thanks to three converted tries and a penalty.

Trowbridge squandered their best chance of the half when right winger Ryan Davis dropped the ball with the try-line beckoning.

The home side also saw play brought back for a scrum to Oldfield when the ball was held up over the line.

Trowbridge began to assert themselves after the interval and it was not long before fly-half Ali Lund breached the Oldfield defence, Lund converted his own try to give the hosts hope of a fight-back.

Skipper Nick Lawes crashed over minutes later and Lund converted again to reduce the arrears to 14-24.

A penalty from Lund brought Trowbridge to within one try of their visitors with 20 minutes to play.

But indiscipline from the returning Dudman and team-mate Dowling left Trowbridge two men short.

Parity was restored when two Oldfield players saw red, but Trowbridge failed to add to their tally.

The hosts had two tries disallowed in the dying stages as Oldfield held on for the win.

After back-to-back defeats, Coombs has issued a warning to his team-mates.

He said: "There are plenty of good players in the second team who are knocking on the door.

"We don't want to leave it until the finalday of the season to get out of trouble again."