WIMBORNE first-team manager Dan Draper labelled as “highly satisfying” the 29-12 victory over Southern Counties South leaders Swanage & Wareham – which allowed the Minstermen to close the gap on the top two.

The Leigh Park side raced into a 12-point lead when scrum-half Ryan Maidment charged down an attempted clearance and crossed the whitewash, before Tom Moysey broke away and Joe Bartlett was on hand to run in from 40 metres. Moysey converted.

However, the second quarter belonged to the visitors and winger Callum Young and hooker Rob Elford hauled the Bestwall side back into contention, Steve Woolley converting the first of these tries to leave the scores tied at 12-12 at half-time.

Wimborne asserted their intentions minutes into the second half when Maidment broke from just inside his own half and created space for Moysey, who outstripped the defence to cross in the corner.

From that point on, the Minstermen did not look likely to relinquish their advantage. When Elford was sin-binned, Wimborne earned their four-try bonus point when they pushed over following the resultant scrum, skipper Dec Foley coming up with the ball. Moysey added the extras.

And the home side duly wrapped up the win when a sweeping move saw Ashton Kerley find Doug Robertson, who burst away to touch down.

The triumph was Wimborne’s first over Swans at home in 12 years and Draper said: “It was a highly satisfying victory and with second-place Marlborough also suffering a surprise defeat, we were able to gain ground on both teams above us in the league.”

Swans head coach Keith Tomes said: “Wimborne out thought and outplayed us. At half-time I thought we were back in the game but a silly error straight from the kick-off after the break saw Wimborne score a try and we never really recovered from that.

“We did have a couple of lads missing but those who came in did really well and Steve Woolley was excellent at full-back, our standout player, too.”

Meanwhile, Swans player and University of Cambridge student Rory Triniman had been selected at outside-centre for next week’s prestigious Varsity match at Twickenham, an accolade which delighted Tomes.

He said: “Rory’s parents live in Stoborough and although he hasn’t played for us yet this year, he is registered to play and did all his pre-season work with us.

“He’s doing his masters degree so he spends most of his time away from the area but it’s tremendous for the club that a player associated with us will be playing in the Varsity game.”

Elsewhere in Southern Counties South, Dorset Dockers ran in five tries en route to a 31-5 demolition of visitors Marlborough.

Crossing the whitewash for the hosts were Jack Madden, James Osborne, Alex Priest, John Vickery and Jamie Coyne-Stacey. Chester Clough added three conversions.

Try-scorer Priest said: “It was a great performance following a heavy defeat against Wimborne and a narrow loss away to Swanage & Wareham.”