SWANAGE & WAREHAM RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB LTD.

SWANAGE & WAREHAM 18pts OXFORD HARLEQUINS 25pts.

​​Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club welcomed middle of the table Oxford Harlequins, in their final home game of the season, to Bestwall last Saturday, and after a shaky start Swans put up a brave performance to pick up a bonus point.
​​From a kick down into the Swans 22 in the first minute, Swans just managed to clear their lines with a punt away into their 5 metres line. From the line out Oxford made a catch/drive move forcing their way over the Swans try line for a 5 pointer after just two minutes. A couple of penalties saw Swans into the Quins 22, and a further penalty enabled centre Phil Graves to land the ball over the posts, after 8 minutes (3pts-5pts). Two minutes later Oxford landed a penalty of their own giving them 8pts, but after fifteen minutes a break by Quins split the Swans defence to score a try close to the posts. This was converted giving Oxford a 15pts – 3pts advantage. Five minutes later a scrum close to the Oxford try line, had Swans pushing the Quins pack backwards over the try line with Swans no. 8 Daffyd Wright claiming the try.
(8pts – 15 pts).
Swans realised that they could control the forwards and for a few scrums Swans were pushing the Oxford pack off the ball. Just after the half hour mark, from a scrum close to the Oxford line, once again Swans overpowered the Quins scrum, the ball went out to scrum half Chris Tomes who forced his way over the try line in the corner.(13pts – 15pts). Swans continued the exchanges up to the interval but there was no further scores until half time.
​​A penalty took Swans into the Oxford 22, and from the line out, after several phases of play with Swans attacking the visitors line, the ball came out to Chris Tomes who worked his way over the try line, for his second try of the game.. 18pts – 15pts after 45 minutes. The play was pretty even during the middle part of the game, but Swans were still dominating the tight. After 60 minutes a penalty to Oxford in front of the posts had the Quins’ full back converting to equalise the scores at 18pts each. Swans could have added to their score, but the Oxford defence held out. With ten minutes to go a penalty to Oxford forced a line out ten metres from the Swans line, the ball was thrown to the back of the line, a forward caught the ball and muscled his way over the try line to give Oxford a five point advantage, which quickly became 7 pts with the conversion. Try as they may Swans could not reduce the arrears, with Oxford coming out winners by 18pts – 25pts, giving Swans, once again, a losing bonus point.
Swans team:- A.Smith, P.Adkins(M.Spencer 55), M.Roberts, D.Elford, C.Young, P.Graves, C.Tomes, J.Sheldrake, R.Elford, N.Audley, J.Hogg, O.Andrews, T.Ford, B.Dennett(Z.Wyburgh 33) D.Wright.
OTHER RESULTS
Swanage & Wareham 2nd XV 11pts Salisbury 2nd XV 57pts league D/W1
Dorset Dockers 2nd XV 48pts Swanage & Wareham 3rd XV 16pts D/W3
GAMES NEXT WEEK 23rd April
Swanage & Wareham 1st XV v Towcestrians league SW1​​Away​​3.00 p.m.
Swanage & Wareham 2nd XV v. East Dorset league D/W1​​Away​​3.00 p.m.

Following the game against Oxford Harlequins Swanage & Wareham held their annual Captains Night, commenting on the season and making awards.
3rd XV Most improved player of year- Adam Dicker Player of the year – Paul Gregory
2nd XV Most improved player of the year- Will Slack Player of the year – Lee Harvey
1st XV Most improved player of the year – Trevor Ford Player of the year – Matthew Roberts
Clubman of the year - Phil Graves

RON BUTLER(Publicity Secretary)