Dorset & Wilts went down 19-13 to the University of Bristol in their latest warm-up match in midweek.
Tuning up for this season's County Championship campaign, the combined counties found themselves struggling to match the pace of the students in the early stages.
Dorset & Wilts attempted to match the university's game plan but paid the price and went into half-time 12-3 down.
After the break Dorset and Wilts exerted more control and eventually gelling together, they came good with two late tries.
Dorset & Wilts drew first blood with a penalty from Swanage & Wareham centre Phil Graves, but the students replied with two tries, one of them converted, before the break.
They scored another converted try early in the second half to make it 19-3 before Dorset & Wilts responded with a try for Swanage wing Andy Gould in the corner.
A drive from the Dorset & Wilts pack resulted in a try for Wimborne lock George Leyland and only committed defence from the students prevented a further score.
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