SWANAGE & Wareham captain John Sheldrake believes the club’s rebuilding project is starting to take shape despite a difficult season to date.

The Bestwall outfit stormed to the Southern Counties South title last term but top try scorer Charlie Rowberry, full-back Callum Baird and number-eight Joe Desmond were among a number of departures in the summer.

Their South West One East campaign has proved tough with a 41-15 defeat at home to Leighton Buzzard on Saturday their 10th league loss in as many games.

However, loosehead prop Sheldrake, who has represented the club for 24 years, feels the green shoots of recovery are beginning to emerge.

He told the Daily Echo: “The results speak for themselves but, ultimately, there has been a lot of changes from last season. Of the 22-man squad we had in the Dorset & Wilts Cup final last season, only seven remain.

“It’s left us in a very difficult position but we have a lot of young and promising players coming through that are really adding to the depth of our squad, which bodes well for the future.

“In the past couple of games, every player that has been on the pitch has come through our mini, youth and colts sections.

“We are looking to bolster the ranks, though, just to get our numbers up.”

Leighton Buzzard made a superb start at Bestwall as captain Euan Irwin crossed twice in the opening eight minutes, with full-back Geoff Branwhite converting the second try.

Phil Graves hit back with a penalty but the visitors extended to 17-3 their lead courtesy of a catch-and-drive move.

After the break, Leighton Buzzard continued to apply pressure and wing Ollie Taylor scored under the posts, with the extras added. But back came the hosts as a catch-and-drive move bore fruit and Will Corsie touched down for a converted try.

The Leighton Buzzard lead was reduced to nine points when Chris Tomes forced his way over before Irwin’s hat-trick made the visitors more comfortable.

Taylor intercepted on his own 22 and ran in to score with 12 minutes left before Leighton Buzzard got their seventh try late on.

Sheldrake added: “It was the first time we had played them and they came out all guns blazing in the first half, which caught all of us unaware. We started to come back into the game in the second half and the opposition did start to struggle. But a couple of errors and an interception try saw their score creep back up.”

Swans squad: Slack, Young, D Elford, Roberts, Price, Graves, Tomes, Sheldrake, R Elford, Audley, Hogg, Corsie, Ford, Dennett, Scott, Smith, Jones, Wright.