HEAD coach Keith Tomes admits Swanage & Wareham cannot yet think about a potential play-off following defeat to champions elect Wimborne.

Swans were beaten 39-17 by their local rivals at Bestwall which all but ended their hopes of finishing top of Southern Counties South and earning automatic promotion.

The hosts trailed 18-14 at half-time and were just one point adrift early in the second period before the Minstermen stepped on the pedal.

Wimborne head into Saturday's home fixture against Walcot knowing victory will hand them the title and promotion with two games to spare.

Meanwhile, second-placed Swans have three matches left to hold on to second place, which would earn them a promotion shootout against opponents from Southern Counties North.

Tomes told the Daily Echo: “In the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half, we were on their line but made a couple of mistakes which led to a couple of breakaway tries and that killed us.

“We don’t like to lose to our local rivals twice in a season so it was a bitter pill to swallow.

“It’s looking like we would play Bicester in a play-off, if we were to get there.

“We beat them in the cup but our record is worse than theirs so at the moment it would be a trip away, which would be more difficult. But we cannot really look at that until we have, hopefully, won the next three games.”

Wimborne were first on the scoreboard after Swans fumbled at a line-out, Nathan Warren powering his way over.

Swans responded with a penalty to the corner and from a catch-and-drive move, second-row Dan Collins crossed and Steve Woolley converted.

Back came the visitors, this time Ed Carter the beneficiary as he wriggled his way over, Tom Moysey slotting the kick to make it 15-7 to his team.

Moysey was to add a penalty before the break but the half-time scoreline read 18-14 as Swans captain John Sheldrake scored a try converted by Woolley.

The full-back reduced to one point the Wimborne lead with a penalty at the start of the second period, after a visiting player had been sin-binned for a high tackle.

However, that was as good as it got for Swans. Moysey showed quickness of mind and feet as he blazed to an interception try and converted himself.

A similar score followed soon after from Ollie Hamer, who scooped the ball off the floor and ran in to nail the bonus-point try. Moysey added the extras.

In the closing stages, Steve King peeled off a maul and touched down to put the polish on victory for the Minstermen.

Swans squad: Woolley, Bobo, Romanillos, D Elford, Barton, Graves, C Tomes, Sheldrake, R Elford, Audley, Penney, Collins, Ratuqalovi, Jones, Wright, Smith, Wyburgh, Oliver.

Minstermen squad: Sturney, R Brokenshire, Adams, Foley, Starr, Warren, King, Carter, Alex Kerley, Moysey, J Brokenshire, Hamer, Robertson, Ashton Kerley, Fitch, Corbin, Blackmore, Bartlett.