SWANAGE and Wareham stole fourth place from under the noses of rivals Wimborne on the final day of the Southern Counties South season on Saturday.

Swans completed their campaign with a 16-10 victory over North Dorset to finish a solitary point ahead of the Minstermen, who suffered a 44-8 setback at Sherborne.

The Bestwall outfit continued their impressive end to the season with a ninth win from 10 matches following an impressive start.

A quickly-taken penalty eventually led to Will Corsie running in his fourth try of the season but North Dorset soon came back and only a try-saving tackle by full-back Darren Wilcox prevented the visitors drawing level.

Swanage then increased their lead with two penalties from Charlie Parish before half-time.

It was a different tale in the second half, as the visitors launched at Swans and scored out wide before reducing the deficit 10 minutes later with their second of the afternoon.

But with five minutes to go, Parish plundered another penalty to ensure bragging rights over Wimborne, whose comprehensive reverse at third-placed Sherborne saw them drop to fifth.

A bright opening saw the visitors take an early lead with a long-range penalty from James Mikolajewski and the Minstermen managed to keep their hosts on the back foot during the opening stages, but were unable to add to their score.

After 13 minutes, Sherborne took the lead against the run of play with a converted try which prompted a spell of increased pressure.

Another try arrived shortly before half-time when Wimborne conceded a penalty for a high tackle.

A counter-attack at the start of the second half led to the hosts extending their lead with a converted effort but a good response from the visitors followed as they narrowed the gap through fly-half Ryan Maidment, who finished off a free-flowing move to register Wimborne's only effort.

The recovery was short-lived as a sloppy restart gave Sherborne a straightforward penalty and the hosts scored another converted try following poor play from the scrum.

Sherborne added two further tries to round off their victory as the match petered out in the latter stages.

Fly-half Charlie Cockram’s try almost inspired Ellingham & Ringwood to an unlikely fightback against New Milton & District, but despite further efforts from Ben Warren, Rob Saltrick, Andy Turner and Andy Weeks, the Es lost 41-29 to finish sixth in London Three South West.