SWANAGE & WAREHAM 25

TROWBRIDGE 20

SWANAGE & Wareham lifted the Dorset & Wilts Cup after edging out Trowbridge.

The Swans started on the attack in the showpiece, held at North Dorset’s Slaughtergate ground, but it was 10 minutes before they got on the scoreboard.

A clearance kick by Trowbridge found Swans’ full-back Karl Barton, who passed outside to winger Callum Young, 50 metres out.

Young outpaced the cover to score an individual try in the corner to hand the Swans a five-point lead.

An even series was played for the next 10 minutes, but Trowbridge were caught offside, and Swans’ centre David Elford landed the penalty goal.

The Dorset side then conceded a series of penalty kicks to Trowbridge, and from a catch-and-drive move, Trowbridge forced their way over the try line after 25 minutes to make it 8-5.

From the restart, the Swans moved forward and flanker Matt Roberts broke clear to score a try under the posts.

David Elford added the extras to take Swans into a 15-5s advantage.

Two minutes before the interval, one of the Swans’ players was yellow-carded, and from the resulting penalty kick, Trowbridge reduced the arrears to 15-8 at the break.

Almost from the start of the second half, Trowbridge won a penalty which took them into Swans’ five-metre line, and from a catch-and-drive move, Trowbridge scored a try in the corner to close the deficit to 15-13.

Much of the play in this period was pretty even, but a penalty to Swans took them into the Trowbridge 22 after 65 minutes, and after a catch-and-drive move, centre Phil Graves claimed the try, ably assisted by second row Dan Collins.

Swanage then took control of the game, and 10 minutes later scrum-half Chris Tomes worked his way over the try line for 25-13.

Well into injury time, a Trowbridge penalty took them deep into Swans’ 22 and, after several phases, they scored a consolation try, which was converted.

Immediately after the conversion the referee called a halt to the proceedings and the Swans celebrated a fine win.

Swans: Barton, Romanillos, D Elford, P Graves, Young, Warren, Tomes, Sheldrake, R Elford, Wyburgh, Penney, Collins, Desmond, Roberts, Jones. Replacements: Audley, Smith, Ford, Rayment, Perry, Smith, Spencer