HOPEFUL boss Keith Tomes set his sights on a return to South West One East after Swanage & Wareham's path to Twickenham was blocked by Truro.

Beaten 46-10 in the Intermediate Cup south west final when two wins from an appearance at the home of English rugby, Swans now turn their attention to their Southern Counties South promotion bid.

Second-placed Swans entertain league leaders Wimborne on Saturday knowing anything but victory will all but end their hopes of automatic promotion and leave them targeting the one available play-off spot.

Wimborne hold a seven-point lead over their opponents in the standings with both teams having four fixtures left to play.

Tomes told the Daily Echo: "I think it's going to be pretty difficult to overtake Wimborne. I think they have probably got the league.

"But we are still looking to secure at least second place, make the play-off and, hopefully, go up that way.

"If we keep plugging away, you never know.

"It will be a difficult game. They played very well over at their place but it's quite good to have a derby after a game like Truro.

"You pick yourself up, dust yourself down and go again. We certainly don't want to be beaten twice by Wimborne in a season."

Playing on home soil against an impressive Truro side, Swans began in positive fashion and Steve Woolley slotted a penalty between the posts after just six minutes.

However, when a huge kick into Swans' 22 was fumbled, visiting full-back Luke Tidball crossed from the resultant scrum and fly-half Ashley Hoskins added the extras.

Minutes later, another error allowed Truro to score, this time Hoskins getting in on the act before converting himself.

Woolley was off-target with a penalty before the away side extended to 19-3 their lead following a try out wide.

A knock-on moments into the second period paved the way for Tidball to grab his second score and a converted try followed just shy of the hour mark.

Hoskins completed his hat-trick when he intercepted and ran 90 metres to touch down, the conversion increasing to 38-3 the advantage.

While Hoskins rubbed salt in the wound with a penalty goal, Swans did gain some consolation when replacement flanker Erin Inglis crossed and Woolley converted.

Tomes added: "We were beaten by a better side. We made more mistakes in one game than we have all season but their half-backs controlled it. Their fly-half was exceptional and their full-back was pacy.

"We are hugely disappointed because we wanted to go all the way. Trips to Twickenham don't come along very often so we would have liked to have made the most of our chance."

Swans: Woolley, Barton, A Smith, Romanillos, Parry, D Elford, C Tomes, Sheldrake, R Elford, Audley, Penney, Collins, Oliver, Roberts, Jones. Replacements: Z Wyburgh, G Smith, E Inglis, Rataqalovi, Wright, Bobo, Young.