SWINDON College Old Boys head coach Mark Lea has hailed his side as the best he has known despite their cup fairy tale coming to a crushing end at the hands of Withycombe.

With the club just two games away from a dream trip to Twickenham, they found the Tribute Cornwall & Devon League side too much to overcome as they succumbed a to 41-20 defeat.

The visitors came out of the blocks quickly and that was rewarded after just three minutes when they went over in the corner.

The conversion was missed and only a couple of try-saving tackles and two missed penalties kept College in the contest in the opening ten minutes.

The pressure did eventually take its toll after 14 minutes when Withycombe went over the whitewash again.

With their first real venture into the opposition’s half, College came away with three points courtesy of the boot of Charlie Grabe.

However, the visitors extended their lead further on the half-hour mark with a driving maul.

Withycombe went over again before the break when they charged down a clearance in the hosts’ 22 and Grabe was able to add another three points to the scoreboard with the last kick of the half.

Ill discipline cost College at the start of the second period as they conceded two more tries with two College players, Matthew McKee and Tucker Blinkhorn, seeing yellow.

However, with the score at 41-6, Swindon did not roll over and they dug deep, with Tucker Blinkhorn pulling a try back before the referee awarded a penalty try.

It proved to be too little, too late, but that character will serve them well going into next season, according to Lea.

“We have come up against a very organised and good side,” said Lea, who will now shave the beard he had been growing during the cup run, which began back in September.

“I’m really pleased with boys. The way they came back in that second half and stuck to it and fought for everything shows the heart they have got.

“For me, I have been with Swindon College for 23 years and this group of players is the best side we have ever had.

“If they stick together, they can do some special things.”