SWANAGE & Wareham suffered a narrow defeat to Oxford Harlequins in their final home game of a difficult South West One East campaign.

Keith Tomes’s side were level until the latter stages but the visitors scored a converted try with 10 minutes left to win 25-18.

Swans had to be content with a losing bonus point but a fourth league victory of the season evaded the Bestwall side.

Oxford opened the scoring after just two minutes when from a line-out, they bulldozed their way over with a catch and drive.

In reply, Swans forced their way into the Quins 22 and a penalty enabled centre Phil Graves to stroke the ball between the uprights.

Oxford then landed a penalty of their own and with 15 minutes played, a Quins break split the defence and the visitors scored a converted try.

Down 15-3, Swans notched their first try when they pushed over from a scrum and number eight Daffyd Wright claimed the score.

After the break, Quins were overpowered in the scrum and the ball was flung out to Chris Tomes, who forced his way over in the corner.

Tomes continued his one-man crusade when he touched down for a second time.

Quins levelled the score at 18-18 with a penalty but with 10 minutes left, a converted try broke Swans’ resistance.

Swans: Smith, Adkins (Spencer, 55), Roberts, D Elford, Young, Graves, Tomes, Sheldrake, R Elford, Audley, Hogg, Andrews, Ford, Dennett (Wyburgh, 33) Wright.