Loader's moving the goalposts (From Swindon Advertiser)

Loader's moving the goalposts

7:00am Wednesday 14th December 2011 in Rugby By Andy Warren

NEIL Loader is already looking to the future after his side hit the 40-point target they set at the start of the season following Saturday’s 57-10 win at Olney.

After winning promotion last season, Loader had set his sights on holding onto a place in South West 1 East, but a superb start to the campaign has given him loftier ambitions.

Loader is keen to keep his feet on the ground but is pleased with what his side has achieved so far.

“We set ourselves the target because we thought that would be enough to keep us in the league, and to have got that is great,” he said.

“In the next few weeks I imagine we will be mathematically safe, but I think we will be fine.

“Our next aim is 60 points, and hopefully that will be enough to get us a good top half finish. That would represent a fantastic season.”

Swindon had to come from 10-3 down to secure the win at the league’s bottom side, as fly-half Adam Westall ran in a hat-trick while Charlie Vine and Tim Berry added two each.

The club have been struggling with injuries of late, and Scott Chapman came out of retirement to slot in at loosehead prop, while a tighthead was recruited from the club’s second team.

The front row had a different look about it by the end though, as it included two hookers and a back rower, but the away side still managed to come away with the result.

Elsewhere, Wootton Bassett triumphed 18-15 in a tight game against fellow Southern Counties North promotion-chasers Grove. Bassett now sit joint second alongside Windsor, but are six points behind leaders Beaconsfield.

Chippenham beat Bridgwater and Albion 34-10 in National League 3 South West, while Swindon College Old Boys went down 34-15 at Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier leaders Drifters.

Minety narrowly lost out 24-22 at Calne in Dorset & Wilts 1 North, as injuries meant they had to rely on their second team.

The visitors took an early lead thanks to a try from outside-centre Luke Radcliffe, but Calne came straight back, drawing Minety into a forward tussle on the right flank and then setting up a two-man overlap as they spread the ball for Keith Bradley to run in the try.

The two sides traded points throughout the rest of the game, until a late Matt Kelly conversion stole it for Calne.

In Dorset & Wilts 2 North, Cricklade lost 56-3 at Combe Down.