SWINDON College Old Boys director of rugby Martin Lloyd is challenging his team to bounce back to winning ways on Saturday but he is actually relieved that it will be easier said than done.

Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier table-toppers College slipped to their first defeat of the season as they were beaten 29-22 at second-placed Drifters last weekend but should the Buckinghamshire side not get anything from their clash next clash with Chesham, Lloyd’s troops could sew up the title with a bonus-point win at home to Hungerford.

However, the College chief is expecting another tough test against Hungerford and thinks that the task in front of his team will benefit them in the long term as the club look to gain promotion back to step seven.

“Hungerford are a good side and our away game against them (a 34-15 win on November 19) was one of our toughest games of the season,” said Lloyd.

“They’re no mugs. They were very tenacious and well-organised, and even if the scoreline looked comfortable, it took us a long time to break them down.

“The Drifters game showed that we can’t look too far ahead and I think that we need two hard games in a row.

“It’s the best thing for us because that’s exactly what it’ll be like should be get promoted next season.

“Losing a match hasn’t made us a bad team overnight but we definitely need to see a reaction.

“There’ll be pressure because Hungerford are a different proposition to Drifters and we have to be ready for that.”

Hungerford are currently fourth in the table but have lost their last three league outings, falling to defeat at the hands of Abingdon, Slough and Risborough.

Elsewhere, Supermarine go looking to rack up a second successive victory for the first time this season when they make the trip to Minety on Saturday.

Nigel Hire’s team, who are second-from-bottom in the Dorset & Wilts One North table, picked up a vital 28-15 win over basement boys Devizes 2nd last weekend.

They find themselves five points behind Frome 2nd, who are 10th, ahead of their game against seventh-placed Minety.

Marine slipped to an agonising 25-24 defeat when the two teams met in November.