Wallingford 15, Swanage & Wareham 20

Wallingford suffered a fourth straight defeat in South West 1 East after failing to make the most of their chances.

Swanage & Wareham scored both their tries through driving mauls and used the tactic well throughout, but Wallingford had the better backs.

The home side missed two gilt-edged chances, with scrum half Derek Viljoen knocking on late in the first half and skipper Ian Jeffreys failing to pass near the end.

Add to that wing Ryan Hodnett’s conversion that struck the left post from straight in front and you can see where the game went begging.

It was pretty dire early on, with Wallingford’s best attack actually coming from a 40-metre driving maul.

At the other end, Hodnett just about managed to scuff the ball into touch inside his own 22.

Viljoen was Wallingford’s most lively player on his comeback from injury and linked play well.

Neither side looked like cutting through before Hodnett slotted a 21st-minute penalty.

Swanage centre Phil Graves replied in kind soon after before a moment of skill, out of keeping with the game, saw full back Ralph Smith receive the ball via Jeffrey and Hodnett and chip ahead.

The ball bounced kindly for Smith, who timed his pass for supporting hooker Tom Hill to finish under the posts, Hodnett converting for 10-3.

The hosts could have moved decisively ahead on 38 minutes as prop Kris Blaszko broke through on the right and Viljoen loomed on his shoulder.

Whether the pass was too hard or Viljoen not concentrating, the end result was a knock-on.

And to compound the error, Swanage drove prop Ollie Andrews over just before the break, Graves converting.

Following some decent forward play on 53 minutes, the ball was moved inside where centre Angus Brettell showed good strength to power over.

Hodnett’s sloppy conversion proved costly when Swanage equalised with a penalty try eight minutes later.

Referee Craig Wilson punished Wallingford for collapsing a maul and Graves converted, although the hosts claimed they had not been warned and were still some way from the line.

Wallingford just could not get going in the final quarter.

Graves kicked a second penalty, while Jeffreys should have passed to wing Elliot Simons as Wallingford’s final chance slipped away.

Wallingford: Smith, Hodnett, Holton, Brettell, Simons, Venners, Viljoen, Blaszko, Hill, Keable, Rowberry, Webster (Isles 55), Chapman, D Jenkins, Jeffreys (capt). Reps not used: Small, Lewis.

Referee: C Wilson (Herts).

Wallingford man-of-the-match: Viljoen.