GRIT and determination proved not quite enough for Swindon Supermarine to bridge the gap between themselves and higher league opposition on Saturday.

A powerhouse first half sent Wootton Bassett into the quarter finals of the competition as they overcame their local rivals, running in 22 unanswered points in the first 40 minutes at Stoneover Lane and although Marine improved after the break, they never really looked like hauling back the deficit. It took just two minutes for Bassett to open their account, fly-half Nick Parker ghosting through the defence to release former Marine centre John Clarke, who went over out wide, his second try in as many weeks.

Full-back Alex Norcross missed the conversion attempt, but seven minutes later scrum-half Sean Millwaters took a tap down from a 10-metre lineout and weaved through.

Norcross landed the conversion to put Bassett 12 points ahead and they extended it straight from the restart.

Openside flanker Jon Saunders drove at the defence, breached tackles and sprinted under the posts from the 22.

Facing a heavy defeat, Supermarine stepped up their efforts. And Bassett were held out until the final play of the game when French second row Flo Vialan took a quick tap penalty from five metres and dived over out wide.

Marine gave themselves a glimmer of hope after half-time when wing Alex O'Neill scored from a neat cross-field kick by Duncan Milne.

Milne added the extra two points, and although neither side were able to score any more points in the second half, it was a much more even contest than in the first 40 minutes, with Supermarine actually gaining superiority at the scrum and winning a number of balls against the head.

l Swanage & Wareham will meet Oakmeadians in the Dorset and Wilts RFU's flagship First XV Cup final.

Both came through their semi-finals on Saturday to book their places at the March 6 showpiece. The Swans beat Salisbury 26-3 and Oakmedians downed Bournemouth 19-10.

Trowbridge are the first team into the semi-finals of the First XV Vase.

They defeated Blandford 16-7 in their quarter-final clash on Saturday and will meet the winners of North Dorset and Pewsey Vale.

North Dorset defeated Bridport 37-0 in Saturday's second round clash.