SWANAGE & Wareham won a topsy-turvy contest with Devizes to keep the pressure on Southern Counties South leaders Marlborough.

The visitors prevailed 24-13 in Wiltshire and took home a bonus point for their efforts.

Swans were on the scoreboard four minutes in when prop Nick Audley barrelled over following a scrum, his first try of the season.

The hosts responded with a penalty but midway through the first half, visiting fly-half Jake Warren made a break and touched down close to the posts. Phil Graves added the extras.

Another penalty allowed Devizes to close the gap but they trailed 12-6 at the interval.

On 55 minutes, the Wiltshire outfit finally got over the line, the conversion putting them 13-12 ahead.

Back came Swans and Graves led a break before passing to wing Callum Young, who dived over in the corner. Graves slotted an excellent conversion.

With three minutes left, Swans flanker Matt Roberts worked his way over following a line-out on the five-metre line.

Swans: Barton, Adkins, D Elford, Graves, Young, Warren, Tomes, Audley, R Elford, Wyburgh (Smith, 42), Collins, Penney, Ford (Jones, 63), Roberts, Desmond, Spencer.

Ellingham & Ringwood stayed third in Hampshire One after a 26-15 win at Farnborough.

The Es led 16-3 at half-time thanks to tries from lock Stuart Pearce and wing Chris Frost. Scrum-half Josh Butcher kicked two penalties.

Ellingham suffered a double body blow in the second period when fly-half Charlie Cockram and centre Chris Gillespie went off injured.

Butcher kicked another penalty but Farnborough clawed their way back into the game and with five minutes left trailed 19-15. 

But Pearce wrapped up victory with his second try and Butcher added the conversion.

Captain Aaron Barker kicked a penalty as Ellingham & Ringwood II lost 27-3 at North Dorset III.

A try from scrum-half Paige Darvill-White could not prevent Ellingham & Ringwood women from losing 8-5 to visitors Reading Abbey in the first round of the Women’s Junior Cup.

Darvill-White’s score had the Es in front at the break but higher-division Abbey came back in the second half, a late penalty ensuring their progress.