SWANAGE & Wareham’s wait for a first win of the season in South West One East continued after they were condemned to a 22-14 defeat by Grove at Bestwall.

Playing against a fierce wind in the first half, Swans struggled to get out of their own 22 and went behind after just 12 minutes when Grove broke through to open the scoring.

A grubber kick set one of the visiting wings free and he outpaced the Swans defence to touch down in the corner for a converted try to give Grove an early 7-0 lead.

Despite defending resiliently for the next 20 minutes, the home side could not prevent an unconverted try in the corner which took to 12 points the Grove lead.

Swans tried to take advantage of the wind after the teams had changed ends following the interval and went close on a couple of occasions.

Just after the hour-mark, a slick move in the three-quarters allowed Swans full-back Callum Young to join the line and cross the whitewash.

Centre Phil Graves added the conversion but Swans’ hopes of a comeback were shortlived as Grove turned the ball over and raced away for a third try just four minutes later.

As the home side pressed hard in the closing stages, an interception allowed Grove to sprint clear from their own 22 and increase to 22-7 the scoreline.

Two minutes later, from a scrum close to the Grove line, the Swans pack forced their way over with captain John Sheldrake scoring with Graves adding the conversion.

Swanage & Wareham: Young, Adkins, Spencer, Graves, Parry, Slack, Tomes, Sheldrake, R Elford, Wyburgh, Pilkington, Corsie, Ford, Dennett, Jones, Audley, Scott, D Elford.

  • Swanage & Wareham IIs suffered a 17-12 defeat at the hands of Blandford in a hard-fought clash in Dorset & Wilts One South, while Swans IIIs defeated New Milton III 15-8 in Dorset & Wilts Three South.
  • Tries from Jason Deverill, Charlie Davies and Sam Avery, coupled with a conversion by Warren Cooley, earned Oakmeadians a 17-5 victory at neighbours Wimborne in Dorset & Wilts One South.

Meanwhile, Oakmeadians IIs adapted well to some atrocious weather conditions at Meyrick Park to emerge 13-5 victors over Dinton in Dorset & Wilts Three South.

A swirling wind and driving rain made free-flowing rugby almost impossible as both teams struggled to master the conditions.

But Oakmeadians fared better than their opponents with Alex Gaines and James Norris scoring tries and Joe Bradford a penalty.