SWINDON captain Adam Westall admitted his side were handed a lesson in playing the conditions as they fell to a 21-3 defeat away to Witney.

With the wet and windy weather behind them in the first half, Sean Lynn’s side were able to keep themselves within touching distance, going in 7-3 behind at the break.

However, 14 unanswered points in the second half inflicted defeat on the Greenbridge Road outfit as they failed to capitalise on the opportunity to close the gap between themselves and the teams above them in South West One East.

“They were strong up front and probably played the conditions a bit better than us,” said Westall.

“Their scrum and line-out was very efficient and they probably gave us a lesson there on how to play wet weather rugby.

“We competed well. We went up there with them fourth in the league, going very well, and at half-time, we were in it.

“The elements were in our favour that half, and they did have to break us down - it wasn’t easy for them.

“At the same time, they got into the right areas and had a very good driving line-out and a powerful scrum, and in those conditions, that is what you need to win tight games and that was the difference overall.

“Take nothing away from the boys; there was 100 per cent effort there but the application of the skill just wasn’t there.”

Swindon now have a weekend off and Westall is hoping that will help to reduce his team’s casualty list and they are desperate for a change in conditions to see them climb up the league.

“We’re hoping for some dry weather,” he added, with nine points now separating Swindon in seventh and Witney in fourth.

“I think everybody is fed up of paying in the rain and the mud. It is not an enjoyable game in those conditions, as much as we try and keep a smile on our faces.

“We’ll hopefully get six of the boys we are missing back as well, which will add a bit of competition to the mix.

“We’ve put ourselves in this position, which is something we’ll have to look at come the end of the season.

“We can still get top-five or top-four - it is not that far away really. We have some of the tough games at home now and we’ll take some beating come the better weather.

“Some of these top sides have got a bit of pressure on them now because they are going to be going for promotion and they have got to come us, and that is probably how we like it.

“We’re seen as an underdog now and come the better weather, that is a good place to be. We are dangerous in those circumstances.”