MARLBOROUGH team boss Mike Banfield admitted his side’s Dorset & Wilts 1st XV Vase semi final defeat at the hands of Swindon College Old Boys was a “wake-up call’’ for the Common men.

Nathan Morgan kicked their solitary penalty as last season’s county and Southern Counties Vase champions exited the competition.

Coach Chris Budgen’s Marlborough have been making serene progress in Dorset & Wilts One North, with just one defeat from their first seven games, but their cup ambitions were ended.

Banfield said: “We missed a couple of penalties and also chose not to kick a couple of others.

“We had a few players out and a lack of numbers training in the week before, but we’re not making excuses.

“On the day Swindon wanted it far more.

“We did have great chances to score but were kept out.

“(For) most of the second half we dominated possession and territory but failed to score.

“Swindon had a number of yellow cards against them and we had one but, despite them having only 14 players for most of game we could not break through.

“It was a wake up call to the level we have to get to and maintain.’’ Tries from the reliable Charlie Grabe and Dan Cooper that clinched the 15-3 win and set up a final against Blandford.

"Any time you get any opportunity to win a cup final it brings prestige to the club,” said College director of rugby Martin Lloyd.

“We have become even more focussed in training and there is great competition among the players to make the squad for the final.

“For myself and (head coach) Mark (Lea) it's about seeing the guys enjoy their rugby, which is what we are here for.”

From the kick-off College forced Marlborough into a series of penalties and Grabe took the opportunity to give the hosts the lead.

However the lead was short lived, with College diving over in the ruck from the restart to give Nathan Morgan the opportunity to level the scores.

College regained the lead when Grabe beat three Marlborough defenders to dive on a grubber kick from Stuart Knight and the fly-half got the conversion.

College gave themselves some breathing room before half-time when a good scrum gave Cooper space to take on three defenders to score in the corner, but Grabe missed the conversion.

In the second half driving rain made playing conditions difficult, and even the addition of former Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs player Budgen was not enough to force a score in the second half.

The final against Blandford, who play in the Dorset & Wilts One South, is on Saturday, November 29 at Royal Wootton Bassett RFC.