STEVE Woolley’s late conversion kept Swanage & Wareham in pole position to reach the Southern Counties play-off – but their fate will hinge on the last game of the regular season.

Following a 35-33 win at North Dorset, Swans head into the final round of fixtures on Saturday level on points but one spot ahead of Sherborne, who they meet at Bestwall. The winner of the Southern Counties South clash will earn a play-off fixture against Bicester with a place in South West One East on the line.

Threadbare Swans were 19-0 down against North Dorset but John Sheldrake powered over and Karl Barton scored in the corner. Fly-half Woolley slotted a penalty, reducing to 19-13 the lead.

After the restart, Isaiah Bobo and Chris Tomes touched down with the latter’s effort converted, North Dorset recording a converted try in between.

The hosts went eight points up with a converted score but a slick move saw Woolley go over in the corner, before adding the extras.

Woolley’s penalty in front of the posts completed the comeback.

Elsewhere, Swans II lost 41-18 at North Dorset II.

Swans I: Barton, Bobo, A Smith, D Elford, Ferguson, Woolley, C Tomes, Audley, Sheldrake, Wyburgh, Oliver, Andrews, Turner, Watkins. Wright. Replacements: Romanillos, G Smith, Dicker.

Southern Counties South champions Wimborne lost 38-22 at Marlborough in their penultimate game of the season.

However, a four-try salvo meant the Minstermen earned a bonus point, giving some consolation after a winning run stretching back to November was ended.

Surprisingly, there was no score after 25 minutes but eventually the teams got the wheels turning.

Wimborne trailed 21-7 at the interval, their try coming through Ryan Maidment on the stroke of half-time. He dummied his way over from the back of the ruck before Joe Bartlett added the extras.

The home side were comfortable in the second half, although Jim Brokenshire and Tom Moysey crossed the whitewash for Wimborne. Nathan Warren also got in on the scoring act when an overlap was created and he took the final pass before going over in the corner.

Minstermen: Sturney, Draper, Adams, Watson, Starr, King, Warren, Carter, Maidment, Moysey, J Brokenshire, Hamer, Stringer, Brown, Bartlett. Replacements: Tinsdale, Degeura, Wright.