Swindon's trying time

Trailing 15-5 and 22-8 in the first half of a rousing final, the Greenbridge Road side hauled themselves back into contention in the second half, and then snatched the lead for the first time in the game with some 15 minutes remaining.

It was not to be their day, though, as a crucial refereeing decision in the dying moments handed North Dorset one final throw of the dice.

Trailing 25-22, the Southern Counties South outfit wasted little time in running the ball at a stretched Swindon defence and after a Saul Kelleher-inspired forward drive, the ball was moved into midfield.

From the resulting breakdown, wing Chris Tennuci darted through at pace and then beat the cover to touch down in the right-hand corner.

The conversion was missed, but no matter as referee Darrel Sinclair blew for the final time.

For Swindon skipper Paul Wakefield, the nature of the defeat was hard to digest, and he said: "The league, obviously, is the priority but it would have been a fantastic cherry to add to the season.

"We were probably a bit too wound up at the start, we rushed up, created doglegs and played into their hands.

"The game was evenly balanced but it was a hard way to lose, especially after the efforts we made to get back into it.

"Pace is something we need to improve on, but you couldn't fault the commitment of the players. We were dying on our feet out there, and it was just a little bit of pace which caught us out at the death."

North Dorset certainly showed their pace and attacking intent from the first whistle, with fly-half Simon Keates eager to move the ball wide and away from Swindon's pack at every available opportunity.

Full-back Chris Hillier showed a clean pair of heels for the first try as he sprinted on to a long Keates pass and sped past the cover.

Keates converted and then slotted a penalty soon after, for interfering at a ruck, to make it 10-0.

Swindon regrouped and, following a break by fly-half Neil Maycock, prop Pat McBain carried the ball to the North Dorset line and from the ensuing maul, lock Andy Morley plunged over for the score.

Maycock, after an earlier penalty miss, strayed wide with the conversion.

North Dorset continued to spread the ball wide and a strong break and pass from centre Andy Clune sent Hillier into the bottom corner for his second try.

Right wing Mike Green also went close but Maycock eventually cleared Swindon's lines and when North Dorset stepped offside, the fly-half found the target to cut the deficit to 15-8.

Swindon scrum-half Connal Knott produced a try-saving tackle but soon after, Matt Seynaeve knocked on a chip forward and North Dorset pounced for a gift try, converted by Keates, for a 22-8 lead at the break.

Swindon, behind a rejuvenated forward display, dominated play in the early stages of the second half and announced their intent with the best try of the game.

Maycock made the initial break before offloading to Morley, the second row found skipper Wakefield in support, and after breaking one tackle, he fed impressive flanker Paul Daniels to carry two tacklers over the line for the touchdown.

Five minutes later and Swindon were over the line again, No 8 Jon Parker instrumental as Scott Chapman touched down a driving maul and Maycock slotting the conversion to bring the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier leaders within two points at 22-20.

From the kick-off, Swindon exposed their opponents' left flank again, with winger Seynaeve gathering a Knott pass to make the line and take his side into the lead for the first time.

Still they had their chances, with Wakefield hauled down short and full-back Nathan Waite knocking on with the try line looming.

Swindon's defences looked equal to North Dorset's endeavour in the dying stages.

But when referee Sinclair penalised Swindon for encroaching at a lineout, the Dorset men were offered that final throw of the dice, and luck rolled their way as Tennuci sprinted clear.