FAIRFORD lost out to a talented Swindon side with the last play in a game where the lead changed hands several times.

Swindon II 38

Fairford 37

Despite the loss, it was perhaps Fairford's best attacking display of the season. It was also a performance in which the defence at times seemed optional.

Fairford started the game with good spells of possession but found themselves back under their own posts twice as poor kicking and over ambition cost them dearly, resulting in two Swindon tries.

Fairford bounced back quickly, though. After a strong scrum, No.8 'Ants' Little gave the ball to centre Bobby Tilling, who ran an exquisite angle before giving the ball back to Little to score under the posts. The visitors were in the ascendancy and Little added another off the back of a scrum. Andy Waite also added a penalty.

Fairford were now attacking at real pace, offloading at will and scored a third try with Little this time the provider, offloading to Gavin Wedlake. The bonus point was wrapped up before the end of the half when lock Davey Stobbs scored his second of the season after good offloading.

But half-time caused Fairford to switch off and there was a repeat of the opening stanza with Swindon running in two quick-fire tries against non existent defending.

Still, Fairford showed the same attacking intent they had throughout and were soon back in the lead with Little rolling back the years to secure a well-deserved hat-trick.

Fairford were never quite able to shut Swindon out of the game, however.

After a succession of errors in their own half, the visitors found themselves camped on their own line. Fairford could not stop some impressive Swindon carries and the home side snatched the win just before the final blow of the whistle.