SWINDON College Old Boys director of rugby Martin Lloyd was keen to take the positives despite seeing his side’s five-game unbeaten run end in a 21-17 defeat at home to Thatcham.

The Berkshire side currently sit second in the table and are chasing down Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier table-toppers Drifters, but Old Boys pushed them all the way and were leading 17-14 with only a few minutes remaining.

A soft penalty and a well-worked try eventually proved their undoing, but Lloyd was happy with the way his side performed.

“I said to the guys at the end that they should really look at the positives from this game and forget that we ended up losing, because we really did play well,” he said.

“The defence stood up well and I think at times we were the better side really, so to lose was a little cruel on us.

“A lot of the things we have been working on in training fell into place for us, and that is probably the most pleasing thing about the weekend.

“We were not as strong as we have been in the lineout, and in the second half I think we started to force things a little bit too much when we could have been more relaxed about it.”

Old Boys are without a game next weekend, but when they return to action on March 24 they begin a run of three games against teams in the league’s top four, starting with leaders Drifters.

“I see no reason why we can’t win all of our remaining games,” Lloyd said.

“We are playing well and every player is buying into what we are doing which is great.

“We have a week without a game now which will mean we are able to use training to work on a few things and tweak the bits that didn’t go right in our last game, and I know we will come back stronger.”

In South West 1 East, Swindon continued their good run of form with a 36-33 victory over a plucky High Wycombe side.

The win keeps Neil Loader’s side third in the table with three games remaining, two points clear of Coney Hill and three ahead of Marlow.

Wootton Bassett showed no sign of rustiness as their returned from two weeks without a fixture to beat Tadley in Southern Counties North.

Bassett Under 13s wrapped up a successful first season in the Dorset & Wilts Cup Division 1 with a 24-17 win over Bradford on Avon to seal third place.

Tries from Tom Mutton, Josh Jefferies, two from Brandon McMurtry and two conversions from George Blakemade sure of the victory.