Dorset & Wilts Div One North

Fairford 29 Swindon II 28

FAIRFORD edged Swindon in a thrilling display of attacking rugby from both teams.

Swindon landed the first try of the game as the home side struggled with the pace of play against their neighbours’ larger pack.

After the opening 20 minutes Fairford started to fight back as their superior fitness shone through. Spinning the ball from side to side, Luke Saywer then produced a sublime offload to wing Sam Baker, who scored his first try for the club from 25 metres out.

The second try soon followed, this time on the other wing. Again Swindon failed to cope with the pace the home side were now playing at and Neil Bee gave the ball to wing Jack Irwin to dummy the last man and speed home for his second try in as many games.

Before the half was over Fairford had a third try , this time from full back Ed Keogh. He broke the line in midfield and despite having options on either side, nonchalantly dummied his opposite man to open his account for the club too.

The match ebbed and flowed either side of half time with both sides trying to play expansive rugby. Swindon responded with another try in the second half before ‘Ants’ Little capped a MoM performance with the bonus-point try.

The metronomic Josh Lenthall extended Fairford’s lead with a penalty to all but secure the win before typical complacency allowed Swindon another try which made for a tense last minute.

Despite the late blip Fairford were the better side and showed lots of promise.

They have a particularly young squad and three of the try scorers were under 18.