SUPERMARINE showed their strength as they came from behind to secure a 21-17 win at Swindon 2nd.

In what were difficult conditions under foot, the South Marston men fell behind to a converted try before Mike Baptiste and Owain Hire both went over the whitewash to claim an away victory, with 11 points coming from the boot of George Russ.

Head coach Sean Millwaters, who was without five players for the clash, was pleased with his side's display but knows there are still areas to work on.

“It was a battle of attrition on a terrible pitch,” he said. “We knew that going into the game, so it wasn’t going to change.

“We had a weakened side. I lost five of my players on Thursday and we had to have a reshuffle, but the guys did well.

“I think we were a bit rusty in a couple of areas and it is something we are going to work on this week.

“They scored three tries from catch and drives, so we need to be able to deal with that.

“I never felt we were going to lose, even though it was so close and the team were doing the best to give myself and the rest of the team a heart attack.

“I think Swindon did ok and I think we had a little bit too much for them and we tried to play rugby, which was pulled apart a bit because the pitch was not very good.”

The win keeps Supermarine in the chasing pack behind runaway leaders Combe Down in Dorset & Wilts One North.

With a home game against Devizes 2nd this weekend, Millwaters is hoping to have a few players return but is confident he has the strength in depth to cope.

“Out of those five that were unavailable, we have two of them back, but then we have lost another two, so it is a juggling game,” he added.