A HAT-TRICK of tries from Swindon's powerful inside centre Paul Wakefield set up a deserved victory against Buckingham.
The game started at a frantic pace which suited Buckingham's style of play as they used their quick wings and full-backs to good effect.
It was end to end stuff. Swindon broke out of defence at one point with fly half Cock combining with second row Prowse and Prop McGregor, who fed winger Hutchinson. He was bundled into touch a couple of metres short of scoring in move that went fully 70 metres.
Buckingham finally broke the dead lock with two scores in rapid succession. Both were unconverted to give the visitors an early lead.
Swindon rallied and came back into the game using their big forwards to make holes in the defence. The pressure eventually paid off as Nathan Waite converted a penalty to reduce the deficit to 10-3.
Scrum half Jimmer Courtney was sin-binned for stamping in a ruck. This seemed to spur Swindon into action and began a change in fortunes for the home side.
Good play from the forwards set up a ruck 20 metres out from the visitors try line. Stand-in scrum half Cock fired a pass out to stand in fly half Waite, he fed a short pass to Wakefield, who crashed through the defense to score under the posts. Waite added the conversion to level the scores.
The second half started with Swindon in control of the game and the home forwards piling pressure on the visitors.
The pressure eventually told. From a line out deep in the visitors teritory the ball was spun out into the backs. Outside Centre Turney fed No 8 Barnes, who broke two tackles and fed Wakefield. Wakefield charged through the ragged defence to score under the posts. Waite added the conversion.
Swindon attacked and came close to scoring a number of times. Prop Brooks powered over the line after solid rucking from rest of the forwards, but the ball was knocked from his hands as he tried to ground it.
The next score was almost identical to the first, Wakfield was fed a short pass and he smashed throught the visitors defence to score under the posts. The conversion was charged down to give Swindon a 22 10 advantage. With time running out Buckingham doubled their efforts and hit back with a try under the posts, conversion and a penalty to bring them to 22-20. But all Swindon's players dug in to defend their lead.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article