SWINDON College Old Boys overcame teh challenge of missing their entire first XV to win their Dorset and Wilts Cup first round fixture at home to Westbury 25-21.

Two weddings amongst the Old Boys starters left them scrambling to put together a team. However they showed their strength in depth to get their season off to a winning start.

The hosts started the quickest and, after some good pressure, fly half Mark Williams was able to collect a loose ball and ran in from 40 metres for a score under the posts, with Charlie Grabe adding the conversion.

Second row, Tom Perrett, then span off the back of a ruck to power over for a debut try, with Grabe again kicking the conversion for a 14-0 lead.

Westbury were allowed back into the game with some aggressive rugby and with 20 minutes to go the teams were seperated by one point.

In a tense last quarter it was Old Boys who made the breakthrough following a trademark bulldozing run from Greig O’Brien. The centre’s break allowed Adam Reeves to drive over from five metres, allowing him to continue his his pre-season try-scoring form.

Westbury came back again and following a loose pass in the backs they latched on to an interception and ran in to score in the corner from halfway.

The conversion, that would have put them one point ahead with only a few minutes remaining, was missed and a late penalty from Grabe sealed the victory.

Director of Rugby Martin Lloyd said: “I was really pleased to see the lads step up this week, many guys moved from the second team today and it shows that we have some depth to our squad now.”