SWINDON are just two games away from Twickenham after the Greenbridge Road side overcame Milton Keynes 21-15 in the final of the Southern Counties Intermediate Knockout Cup at the weekend.

Neil Loader’s side dominated their guests throughout the contest to advance to the South-West Championship final against Old Redcliffians of Bristol on April 3.

Tries from Joe Williams and Fraser Brown, along with three penalties from the boot of Adam Westall, completed an admirable comeback for Swindon, who trailed 15-8 at one point.

Loader was delighted with the resolve displayed by his charges to turn the tables of the Buckinghamshire side, who had convincingly beaten their hosts twice in the league earlier this year.

“I’m really very pleased with it,” said Loader.

“Yet again we stuck in and kept battling. It was not pretty at times but we didn’t compromise our desire to play running rugby.

“We turned penalties into points, which was important as it was a cup game, and our defence was pretty solid.”

Stopping the threat of Milton Keynes’ powerful running play at the breakdown was always going to be crucial in Swindon getting a foothold in the cup tie.

And the home side executed their gameplan to perfection, preventing quick ball from the back of the ruck and maul and defending sensibly.

“They played a good offloading game and we negated that,” said Loader.

“We scrambled well too, which is something we don’t do often.

“We picked our battles in a defensive sense and, in the second half, Milton Keynes ran out of ideas.

“We said before the match that it was a cup game, a one off, and if we had to win ugly we would win ugly.”

The visitors were at full-strength for the tie, making the scalp even more significant for Loader.

Milton Keynes had put 101 points past Swindon in their two games in Southern Counties North this season prior to Saturday’s fixture.

And the hosts’ coach put the victory down to the ever-improving atmosphere within the club at present.

“It is an impressive win. They came here expecting to smash us,” he said.

“The confidence in the side is really building.Now we’re two games from Twickenham, and we’ve got to be proud of what we’ve done so far in this competition.”

The visit of Old Redcliffians, the current league leaders of Western Counties North, will be a daunting prospect for Loader & Co.

But the former Rugby Parma boss believes if his outfit can negotiate that obstacle, then a trip to the sport’s English home is not a total impossibility.

“If we can get past Old Redcliffians, who are probably the hardest team left, then we have a chance,” he said.

“We just have to build on our success and move onwards and upwards.”