SWINDON head coach Sean Lynn is happy with how his side are maturing as they head into the second half of the South West One East season.

The Greenbridge Road side started the new year in the perfect way as they claimed a 23-13 win at Maidenhead despite being down to 14 men for a large part of the game.

Lynn said his side showed great character in the victory, which shows how much his team have grown in recent years with some of the longer standing players stepping up to their roles as senior members in the team.

“Every game we go out and show a bit of character, which we have been doing, and just play for each other,” he said.

“You can see the boys who have played in this league for a few years now, they have developed and they are showing that maturity in the way they are playing.

“Either if they are chasing a game they know how to chase it or if they are winning a game and need to close a game off.

“I can see that maturity coming through not just from (Tom) Mannion and (Adam) Westall but from Connal Knott, who has taken a really good role, and Ben Saville. Those players are really taking a senior role.”

Swindon now host Newbury Blues on Saturday knowing a bonus point win could lift them to second if other results go their way, but Lynn is not looking at the table and knows his side will not be in for an easy game.

“They are a bit of a bogey side,” he added.

“We have just got to take one game at a time and they are coming to us and we’re excited really.

“We’ll prepare as normal, work hard in training and the boys will be listening hopefully.

“That’s what’s nice about Saturdays. The boys are listening in training and putting it into the game.

“It is still a long way to go but the boys are feeling confident and are really enjoying their rugby and that is what it is about.

“Where we finish is where we finish, we are not looking at any placing in particular really.”