SALISBURY 18 SWANAGE & WAREHAM 15

A DISAPPOINTED Swanage & Wareham had to settle for second prize at the end of a closely-contested Dorset & Wilts Cup final against Southern Counties South outfit Salisbury on Saturday.

The Swans didn’t get off to the greatest of starts when a mistake allowed winger Tom Pottage to slot the first penalty of the match and make it 3-0.

Charlie Parish had a chance to level things up soon after but his attempt at goal went wide of the posts.

Forward play began to dominate proceedings for the next 10 minutes before Salisbury went further ahead, Pottage finding his range again with another penalty.

But the Swans hit back and from a lineout hooker Jack Fielding forced his way over the try line. Parish missed with the conversion.

With 27 minutes gone, a break by Swans’ winger Val Valemei nearly put his side ahead but a penalty was awarded instead and Parish converted.

At 8-6 up, the Swans were looking good to go into the break holding the upper hand.

However, they were reduced to 14 men just before half-time and then lost their lead.

The Salisbury forwards pushed the Swans’ pack backwards at a five-metre scrum and were awarded a try.

With both defences on top it was tough going in the second half, and the crowd at North Dorset’s Slaughtergate ground witnessed plenty of fierce tackling from the two sides.

Then, on 65 minutes, came what was arguably the key moment of the game.

The Swans worked the ball into the Salisbury 22 and, just when it looked like they could make a breakthrough, up popped that man Pottage to intercept and run fully 90 metres to score under the posts.

He added the extras himself to give Salisbury an 18-8 lead.

Even though they were 10 points behind, the Swans were always prepared to attack, but they just could not penetrate the Salisbury defence.

That was until the 80th minute when flanker Jesse Scott forced his way over the whitewash and Parish added the conversion.

But the Swans’ hopes of snatching the cup victory were dashed when the referee blew the final whistle seconds later.

Meanwhile, Salisbury also got the better of the Swans in the Dorset & Wilts 2nd XV Shield final, winning 22-9.

Swans: Baird, Valemei, Graves, Cottrell, Rowberry, Parish, Tomes, Sheldrake, Fielding, Audley, Collins, Penney, Corsie, Roberts, Desmond, Wyburgh, Wright, Scott, Ayers, Smyth, Spencer, Barton