SWANAGE and Wareham returned from Melksham with a bonus point win.

The Swans hosts led early on thanks to a penalty which was converted after a Swanage infringement at the scrum in their 22.

But Swanage took the lead and didn’t relinquish it shortly after, as a penalty took them into the Melksham half and the ball was worked to winger George Crouch, who dotted down under the posts.

The conversion was missed, before Crouch collected a loose ball on 18 minutes and touched down in the corner to double Swanage’s score, leading 10-3.

Lewis Reeves was the next to score for the Swans, finishing off after Swanage collected a deep clearance from the hosts, with the fullback adding the extras himself.

Melksham crossed the line for the first time themselves after a tap penalty saw them work it to score in the corner, bringing the score to 8-17 in Swanage’s favour with half an hour gone.

Crouch completed his hattrick five minutes later, scoring in the corner to secure the try bonus point.

Right before the break Swanage and Wareham extended their lead after charging down a Melksham kick, with Reeves touching down under the posts and Tom Munn adding the conversion.

The opening exchanges of the second period were much the same as the first, but Swanage couldn’t add to their 29-8 lead.

The home side got back into the Swans 22 with a couple of penalties and powered over for a converted try.

Swanage’s other winger Olly Dillon got his name on the score sheet after 74 minutes, before the hosts added one final unconverted score to make it 20-34 at the end.

Swanage’s second XV fell to a 22-19 defeat to Puddletown at home. The first side will host Royal Wootton Bassett next weekend.