SWINDON College Old Boys head coach Mark Lea was disappointed that his side had nothing to show for their efforts following their 18-10 defeat at Blandford.

The Pipers Way outfit are back plying their trade at Southern Counties level this term after romping to the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier title last season.

However, this year, College are playing in the South division, compared to the North section two seasons ago.

Despite seeing a host of new faces come in over the summer, Lea was without 18 players he says are capable of pulling on a first XV jersey for the trip to Blandford.

Yet despite the number of unavailabilities, the College chief felt his side should have at least come away with a losing bonus point.

“If we are honest, it is a game that we should have won,” Lea said. “When we play them at home (on the final day of the season) it is a game that we will be targeting for a win.

“They were fitter than us, and that is something that we are going to have to work on and they are more used to playing at this level. They had more composure than us.

“We perhaps showed a bit of naivety of trying to score off the first phase.”

College bagged the first try of the match when Rich Smith drove over the line from five metres following a tap-and-go penalty.

However, a lapse in concentration early in the second half let the hosts in to score two tries of their own.

With time running out, Tucker Blinkhorn dotted down in corner to give the visitors a chance to secure the losing bonus point.

“It was a really tough kick and we hit the post,” Lea added. “It was such a shame because we deserved at least that losing bonus point.”

Swindon secured their first win of the season in South West One East as they defeated Marlow 15-9 at Greenbridge Road.

Following their opening-day defeat at Grove, new head coach Mike Panaho was determined to see his side getting off to a winning start on their own patch.

And tries from John Mason and Charlie Cox helped ensure that Swindon secured the four points.

Royal Wootton Bassett, however, are still to register a win this term after they went down 16-3 at home to Old Patesians.

Following their tough opening day assignment at Old Centralians, Alan Low’s side would have been hoping to get off the mark against the Cheltenham-based side.

However, despite going close on a couple of occasions all they had to show for their efforts was a Tom Fieldsend penalty in the second half.

Meanwhile, Supermarine got their campaign off to a winning start in Dorset and Wilts One North as they beat Swindon 2nd 17-7.