CHARLIE Rowberry was the hat- trick hero for relegated Swanage & Wareham in their 17-12 win over fellow strugglers Cheltenham at Bestwall.

It was only Swans’ fourth South West One East victory of the season and lifted them off the foot of the table.

Rowberry, playing outside centre rather than his usual position on the wing, opened the scoring with a fine solo try after only four minutes.

He collected the ball on his own 10-metre line before surging into the Cheltenham half and shrugging off a couple of tackles to give Swans a 5-0 advantage.

Another breakaway led to Rowberry touching down under the posts for his second try which he also converted to stretch Swans’ lead to 12-0 after 25 minutes.

But the visitors bounced back with skipper Tom Lait barging over the Swans’ line to reduce the deficit to 12-7 at the interval.

And Cheltenham drew level shortly after the break when Alan Dobie pounced on a wayward Rowberry clearance to touch down in the corner.

With the result in the balance, Swans tilted the contest back in their favour with 10 minutes remaining.

Swans winger Dave Price-Smith won possession on the ground and the ball was spun along the three-quarters to Rowberry on the halfway line.

Rowberry beat his opposite number and made it to the try line in the corner to complete his hat-trick and seal the points for Swans.

Swans defended their lead for the remainder of the match to climb above High Wycombe in the standings.

Swans: Dunsford, Price-Smith, Rowberry, Smyth, Landrum, Smith, Tomes, J.Sheldrake (Wyburgh, 48) Elford, Audley, Burgess, Penney, Collins (Large, 40), Jones (Wright, 40), Desmond.

  • East Dorset edged a step closer to ending their Dorset & Wilts Two South campaign with a perfect record following a convincing 42-0 victory over North Dorset at Iford Lane.

The leaders registered their 17th successive victory and will be hoping to complete the season with an unbeaten league record when they host fourth-placed Puddletown next month.

Sam Tresman scored two penalties during an even first half before fly-half Henry Stapleton went over for the first try 10 minutes into the second half to spark the opening of the floodgates.

Further tries came from Mark Chiverton (two), Matt Sadler, Chris Poole and James Bellamy, while Tresman added three conversions to cap a stirring second-half display from Stu Wilson and Chris Culletons’ troops.

  • Ellingham & Ringwood’s trip to Bognor in London Division 3 was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and has been rearranged for Easter Saturday. Ellingham & Ringwood seconds registered a 19-5 win over Dorset Division Two rivals New Milton II at the Raymond Brown Memorial Ground.