THE flag is flying high for Swindon St George this season as they continue to slay all before them in West of England Pool Two.

The Supermarine-based side headed to previously unbeaten Cheltenham Phoenix at the weekend looking to maintain their own perfect start.

New head coach Ben Whincup, who joined the club this season after being with Gloucestershire Warriors, told his players that the game at Cheltenham would be a marker for the rest of their campaign.

And, if that is the case, and an eight-try 44-14 success is anything to go by, then St George can expect a very enjoyable campaign.

Hooker James Slatter crossed the whitewash twice while Peter Kewell, Jamie Deal, Callum Hambrecht, Stuart Doughty, Sam Argent and a 50-metre sprint from prop Declan Labrosse, completed the eight.

Tom Connor kicked three conversions, with Slatter and Deal also successful from the tee.

“This was our marker for the season,” said Yorkshireman Whincup, who is now living in Swindon.

“I knew that if we could perform there, then we would be able to perform anywhere.

“But this was something that I never expected. They were a previously unbeaten side and that was one of the most clinical performances I have seen from Swindon St George.”

In years gone by, Swindon could go through the majority of the campaign before getting their first win on the board.

But with a new-look squad and coach, St George’s success over Cheltenham was their second of the campaign after defeating Somerset Vikings last month.

And they will be looking to follow that up on Saturday when they welcome Southampton Vikings, who lost their first game of the season last month 40-14 against Cheltenham, to Supermarine.

“I can’t speak about the previous seasons but so far, the boys have been really enthusiastic and they have been a pleasure to coach,” said Whincup, who played his rugby league in his native Yorkshire before moving south to Gloucester for work.

“The numbers we are getting down to training is fantastic and I will pretty much have a full strength side to choose from this weekend.