SWINDON rugby club's struggles in Regional Two South Central continued last weekend after a 36-17 defeat to local rivals Marlborough on The Common.

The Greenbridge club has only won three of its 12 fixtures so far, whereas league leaders Marlborough can boast a 100 per cent record from the same number of games.

Despite the difference in form, Swindon came out all guns blazing after their short jaunt down the A346 and steadily accumulated a 12-0 lead within the first half an hour.

Swindon could have been 19-0 up if not for a try-saving tackle from Marlborough winger Callum Hunt which prevented a score under the posts.

That heroic action, combined with an extraordinary forward move by tight-head prop Gareth Smith moments later, galvanised Marlborough late in the first half, and from there the home side roared back.

Ash Horner crashed over the line following an attacking line-out deep in Swindon’s half, and five minutes later, Weir Filikitonga out-paced two defenders to score.

Just before half-time and seconds after a Marlborough attacking scrum, the home team flicked wide for Hunt to dot down in the corner. Marlborough’s two most-recent tries were left unconverted as the score read 17-12 at the break.

Swindon were unable to halt the hosts’ momentum after half-time, with Vili Hakalo crossing under the posts and the conversion being added.

Following an excellent penalty clearance from Will Grant, the resulting maul set from the line out saw the home side’s hooker, Solomone Aniseko crash over for an unconverted try in the 53rd minute.

Even though Marlborough were the more dominant side, Swindon remained in the contest as the home team squandered a handful of scoring opportunities. Frustratingly for Swindon, the league strugglers could not forge a route back into the game with points of their own.

A successful move apiece capped off the afternoon’s action – Akariva Seruvatu bagged a converted try for Marlborough following a late scrum deep in the visitors' half before Swindon replied with a score of their own in the final play of the game.

Elsewhere, Royal Wootton Bassett suffered a 33-10 loss away at London Welsh in Regional One South Central to remain bottom of their division by five points.