WEYMOUTH 15 SWANAGE & WAREHAM II 10 MARK Sample is already eyeing next season’s title after seeing his Weymouth side secure second place with a final-day win over Swanage & Wareham Seconds.

The Swans had to win by at least 23 points in order to steal the runners-up spot but the Seasiders extinguished those hopes with a resolute display at Monmouth Avenue.

And Weymouth’s skipper is hoping to go one better next term. He said: “We wanted to finish on a high, it was quite a tight game but we deserved to win it.

“We’ve come into the back half of the season on a good run and it’s that run which has seen us finish in second.

“It’s been a good season and a pleasing first year as captain. We got to the quarter-finals of the Dorset & Wilts Vase, the semi-finals of the Southern Counties Cup and finished second in the league.

“We’ve got to put a lot of work in to make sure we take the next step. We’ve finished fourth, third and second in our last three seasons so next year, providing we put the work in, we want to push for first.

“We are attracting more players than ever so to keep them we have to have ambition, which is to play Southern Counties rugby.”

The Swans missed an early penalty attempt before the Seasiders took the lead in the season finale when Adam Hoxey put in Anthony Cowburn for an unconverted try.

The visitors equalised prior to half-time following a catch and drive move but two tries in quick succession saw the home side open up a 10-point gap.

First, Cowburn turned provider to set up Dave Allan before Hoxey picked out Joe Gibson for score number three.

The Swans cut the deficit to five once again but Weymouth stood firm to secure a winning end to the Dorset & Wilts One South campaign.