SWINDON coach Neil Loader hailed his side’s 20-18 victory away at Cheltenham as their best win of the season, but is convinced there is still more to come from his team.

Despite leading at half time Swindon trailed 18-13 going into the final minutes in Gloucestershire, before Michael Thompson went over from a successful catch and drive to level the scores, and Swindon Advertiser Sportsman of the Year Adam Westall stepped up to slot the winning conversion.

It was no more than Swindon deserved after a difficult few weeks, and Loader was impressed with the way his players performed but has called for them to take it up a level.

“It was great to get a win, and to do it away at somewhere like Cheltenham is a great feeling and the win is definitely up there as the best this season, but the performance could have been better,” he said.

“Winning a game like this one shows we can compete with the very best in this league, and that is exactly what we are aiming for.

“But with the performance I still think there is more to come from this team. We were ahead at half time and I just think they might have thought the job was already done, and that is dangerous.

“I really do believe that with this group of players, with a few additions in specific areas, we can challenge to take this team up to the next level in the coming years, and that is what we have to aim for really.”

Cheltenham took the lead through an early penalty before Swindon replied with a quick try which Westall converted to give the visitors a 7-3 half time lead.

Swindon had the wind at their backs in the second half but Cheltenham scored first through a try from Jason Graham, before Westall kicked another penalty to regain the lead.

But it was Cheltenham who scored next as Hamish Wrafter stormed over the line for a superb try, which Josh Herbert converted from the touchline.

A soft penalty allowed Westall to claw Swindon back into the contest, before Thompson’s late try secured a superb away victory.

Swindon Under 13s were also in Cheltenham to face Old Patesians, and came away with a superb 27-15 victory.

George Hoyland-Jones brought Swindon level after Old Pats took the lead, and shortly afterwards prop Luke Child scored the visitor’s second try, converted by fly half Oliver Walsh to secure a 12-5 half time lead.

Jake Brock got Swindon off to the perfect start in the second half with another try, but Old Pats came back through two quick tries to narrow the gap as the snow began to fall.

Captain Joey Toogood steadied Swindon nerves as he scored in the corner, before he added a superb solo effort to make sure of the win.