SWINDON 31: DRIFTERS 6: Swindon extended their unbeaten league run to 25 games but dropped to second in the Southern Counties (North) table.
Had they scored another three points they would still be in front of new leaders Beaconsfield on points difference, but the Greenbridge Road side have a game in hand.
In a game played in pouring rain, the weaker Drifters side managed to hold on for the first 15 minutes with some excellent clearance kicks, and took the lead with a penalty after ten minutes.
Swindon's response was almost immediate. From an attacking scrummage on the Drifters 10 metre line, the ball was spun wide to full back Guy Sturla, who after making nearly 30 metres fed back inside to scrum half Jimmer Courtney, who scored close to the posts. Adam Westall added the easy conversion.
Swindon continued to pressurise the home side. From a penalty outside the Drifters 22 Swindon chose to kick to the corner instead of taking an easy penalty attempt. From the resulting lineout, Andy Morley took a clean ball and the forwards drove over the line. Hooker Scott Chapman came up with the ball and Swindon had extended their lead to 12 - 3.
With ten minutes remaining of the first half Swindon scored the try of the game. From a scrum ten metres out No. 8 John Parker picked up and drove for the line, when he was held up short. The remaining forwards quickly recycled the ball. Courtney fed the ball out to the backs, and Sturla scythed through the defence to score wide out to the right.
Swindon's first score of the second half was almost identical to the second try of the game. From a penalty, Swindon kicked for the corner. From the resulting lineout, Andy Morley again took a clean ball, the forwards drove over the line, and again Chapman came up with the ball for his second try of the game. Westall slotted a difficult conversion.
Drifters only score of the half came from one of their infrequent visits into Swindon's territory when a free kick was turned into a full penalty after a comment was made in earshot of the referee.
Swindon's next score came after some superb handling. From fourth phase ball, the defence was stretched and the scorer on this occasion was Mark Buckingham who dived over to score near the right touch line. Westall added the trickiest of conversions.
Swindon take a break from league action this weekend when they face Cinderford at Greenbridge Road in the third round of the Intermediate Cup.
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