SWANAGE and Wareham captain Robert Elford has labelled their home clash against Henley Wanderers tomorrow (3pm) as a “must win” game.

The Purbeckers are more used to being among the top dogs in South West Division Two East.

But they were pipped 33-31 at Wallingford last Saturday by a controversial last-gasp penalty and currently sit fourth bottom with only one win from four matches.

It’s an unfamiliar position for Swans, who have also lost to Wallingford’s fellow 100-per-cent joint league leaders Reading and Maidenhead.

So much so that Elford said: “It’s not a good feeling at the moment, it’s unusual really.

“Henley is a must win as was last Saturday when we lost to the last kick of the game which was devastating for us.

“This weekend is huge if we want to retain our chances of gaining promotion.

“Everyone involved in the club, especially in the first team, knows a win is a must and we’re confident that can be achieved.”

Elford added: “We tripped up against Reading two weeks ago at home when we conceded three tries in 10 minutes before half time.

“We were 8-0 up and then had a stupid 10 minutes. We won the second half 7-5 so it was a game that had we maintained our concentration all the way through we would have won.

“We fell asleep for 10 minutes and it cost us the game.

“We were determined to turn it around at Wallingford but things didn’t go our way there.

“We’ve got to put our bad start and those defeats behind us and move forward.

“Basically we start our season from here.

“We have to get a run of league wins under our belt and hopefully we can start that against Henley.

“We’ve not been helped by the fact we’ve struggled to put out the same team each week.

“But as an amateur club you’ve got to accept that is going to happen, what with weddings and other reasons why people can’t always play.

“We’ve got to get a bit of consistency going on that front though and everyone at the club knows that.”

Darren Penney returns to the second row tomorrow after two weeks out, while Chris Parish makes his first senior appearance of the season.

Swanage and Wareham: Sheldrake, R Elford, O Andrews, Burgess, Penney, Warren, McConkey, Wright, Harris, P Graves, M Cottrell, D Elford, C Parish, Rowberrry, Leak. Subs: Woodard, Harwood, Spensley.

  • Swans hold a vice-presidents’ luncheon before their home EDF Energy National Trophy first round tie against Shelford on October 18.

Contact Peter Huntsman on 01929 425857 for more information.