SWANAGE and Wareham salvaged pride for the local teams by leaving the Bournemouth Sevens with silverware.

Swans triumphed in the South of England (formerly South West) Plate competition after their Dorset-based rivals had all failed to fire during the third annual hosting of the Daily Echo-backed event.

Plate semi-finals winners over Oakmeadians 28-5, Swans claimed the crown with a 35-19 victory against Cullompton.

David Price-Smith and Charlie Rowberry scored two tries apiece, with Daffyd Wright and Darren Penney also crossing the line.

Delighted skipper Rob Elford, the 29-year-old front-row forward, said: “The competition is getting better and better every year, so we’re pleased.

“While it’s not the main South of England Cup, it’s nice the boys have got a bit of silverware to take back to the club.”

Earlier, reigning regional champions Oakmeadians had been knocked out by Swans, having failed to qualify for the main cup competition.

Inaugural winners Bournemouth lost in the cup quarter-finals. David Dunn’s men, runners-up to Oaks in 2009, paid the price for having a number of key men unavailable due to their commitments with Dorset & Wilts at Twickenham.

In the South of England Cup final, Bryanston Old Boys got the better of Marauders 30-14.

There was a thrilling finale to the ladies tournament as Henley defeated Moody Cows on ‘golden score’. Level at 12-12 after normal time, the Oxfordshire outfit broke clear to bag the crucial try.

The showpiece National Invitation Cup was won by the Army. They saw off the challenge of Templars 29-19 in front of a bumper crowd on the main pitch.

• Full coverage of the Sevens in today's Daily Echo.