SOUTH WEST TWO EAST: CHIPPENHAM were left to rue missed chances as promotion-chasing Swanage and Wareham took the honours at Allington Field.

Team coach Matt Sheppard was forced to make several last-minute changes to his side, with John Gibbon, Richard Kearney and Darren McMillan making up the back row.

An early penalty kicked by James Barnard, gave Chippenham an encouraging start, but the Swans hit back with a penalty and then slotted over another to take the lead.

The visitors' opening try owed much to a huge slice of fortune. The ball was kicked into space by the full-back, bounced awkwardly, hit a Chippenham player's knee and rebounded for a waiting Swans player to take full advantage.

Chippenham regrouped and came back with a superb try from Grant Trewartha, who tore through the defence to score. Barnard kicked the conversion from a difficult angle.

Barnard levelled the scores with his second penalty of the afternoon after the break, but the visitors scored a converted try to open up a seven-point advantage.

The try was to prove decisive as Chippenham failed to take advantage of a number of second half chances. Barnard bagged two more penalties to take his side to within a point of the Swans, but the visitors held on for victory. First team manager Robbie Spiers said: "We created the chances but we just didn't take them."