SWINDON’S head coach Sean Lynn believes that his side can take plenty of heart from Saturday’s 26-12 defeat to unbeaten league-leaders Chippenham.

The Greenbridge Road boss felt that his players showed that they are capable of competing with the top teams in South West One East but stressed that they must be more clinical.

And it was that lack of edge in front of the try-line that Lynn felt was the difference between the two sides at the weekend.

“I ask for a performance from the players every week and I got one,” he said. “The front five gave me everything.

“We were just not as clinical as we should have been – we didn’t finish our chances off.

“I don’t think that we are that far behind the likes of Chippenham. It was a great learning curve for the players because they now know if they don’t finish off their chances, then the other team will punish them.”

Both teams went into the match with players missing and it was the visitors who took the lead with a penalty from the boot of Dom Riccio before adding the opening try soon afterwards.

Swindon then saw Adam Westall miss two penalties and they were made to pay as Chippenham’s Ben Riley, Williamson, Chris Simmons and Ryan Surry combined well and wing Steve Barber cruised over the try line.

The home side came back strongly, urged on by Tom Mannion, who was making good ground with his ball carrying and, after numerous phases, the back-rower scored a try and Westall converted.

Chippenham’s Aaron Ascott was yellow-carded but the 14 men repelled any further Swindon attacks before half-time.

Swindon added their second try through Adam Dobie in the corner after the break but, after they were reduced to 14 men, Oscar Ryan extended Chippenham’s lead to four points with a penalty.

Solid pressure then forced the error from the Swindon backline and Ryan dived over for his side’s third try.

Swindon suffered a further sin-binning as Mannion was penalided and the visitors took full advantage, Bobby Lyons forcing his way over.