SWANAGE and Wareham secured a bonus point win over Combe Down in pouring rain.

After a delayed start as the visitor’s coach broke down, it was Swanage who scored the first try of the afternoon.

A couple of early penalties for Combe Down set the game alight early on but a Swans penalty took them deep into their opponents’ 22.

The ball was fed to full back Lewis Reeves who did the rest, scoring close to the posts, converting the try himself.

The hosts extended their lead five minutes later, as winger George Crouch crossed in the corner.

The rest of the half was disjointed, with neither side controlling the game, or the ball, in atrocious conditions.

The sides entered the break with Swanage leading 12-0, as both sides were awarded penalties but knocks on, fumbles and dropped passes were the theme.

Combe Down struck quickly after the restart.

Swanage were unable to collect the ball safely and the visitors powered over a few phases after the resulting scrum, leaving the scores at 12-5 after 43 minutes.

But this would be the only time Combe Down would cross the whitewash, as hosts Swanage began to dominate.

They went on the attack, and, after a quick tap from a penalty five metres out, prop Tony Crouch touched down, with Reeves converting after 50 minutes.

Number 8 Joe Desmond was the next to cross the line for the Swans, after a scrum close to the Combe Down line, giving Swanage their bonus point.

In the final moments of the game, winger Crouch crossed again, starting a run on the left wing and moving diagonally across the pitch to score by the right corner flag.

While this was not converted, it sealed a comfortable 29-5 win for Swanage, who travel to Melksham next week.

Elsewhere, Swanage’s second XV lost 22-17 to East Dorset Dockers.