A FIRST win of the season for Swindon at the weekend has revitalised their bid to avoid relegation from South West One East after they defeated mid-table Beaconsfield 40-36 at home.

Ian Reynolds’ men notched six tries in a dramatic encounter at Greenbridge Road to put an end to their 11-game losing streak and bring them within four points of 12th placed Witney, who sit above Stratford-upon-Avon in the race to avoid the drop.

Inconsistencies in the team have done little to help Swindon, who are yet to field the same starting 15 in any two fixtures this season.

But head coach Reynolds hopes Saturday’s win can help the club turn their back on a disastrous start to the season, and instead look onwards and upwards in their quest to climb the league table.

He said: “The win has been a long time coming, it’s been a tough season for us.

“A lack of available players has been our problem this season. Over the last few weeks, though, our performances on the pitch have been improving.

“It was good to get a first win under our belt.

“Most of our results, we’ve fallen off the game. We’ve either conceded tries too early on in the game when we’ve got a new group of players playing together, and then as the game has progressed we’ve improved and started to gel as a team.

“Then we’ll play the following week and have to field a different team because of unavailability.

“We’re yet to put the same side out for any two weeks this season, so that hasn’t helped our cause.”

While Reynolds took plenty of encouragement from his side’s 40-point return, the Swindon boss admits the club must improve defensively if they are to improve in their two showings before Christmas.

A trip to Chippenham awaits Swindon this weekend before they host Newbury Blues a week later.

“We’re still a little bit disorganised defensively,” admitted Reynolds. “We’re working hard in defence. We just need to put a bit more work in on the training ground.

“Our work in training this week will be based on defending.

“We’ll be looking to push on from here and make progress.”

Elsewhere, Royal Wootton Bassett’s attempt to halt Newbury Blues’ unstoppable form failed as the visitors returned to Berkshire having secured a 21-10 victory.

The loss for Bassett has kept them in second place, however, 11 points now separate the teams, with Newbury looking nailed on for promotion at the end of the season having won all 12 of their opening fixtures.

Swindon College Old Boys won 24-5 away at Bradford on Avon in Southern Counties South, but Supermarine lost 80-5 at Dorset & Wilts One North high-flyers Avonvale.