Swindon storm back for victory

From the archive, first published Tuesday 25th Oct 2005.

Swindon continued to keep the pressure on at the top of Southern Counties North after defeating Grove 28-12 at Greenbridge Road on Saturday. It was always going to be a closely-contested affair and so it proved so.

Grove started the game the stronger side and soon went ahead with a try early on in the match taking them ahead 5-0.

A second try from Grove that was converted then meant the score was 12-0 to the away team.

After a number of indiscretions from the Swindon side, it was lucky that Grove did not have their kicker on form as a couple of penalties were missed.

Conversely, Swindon's Neil Maycock was successful with a penalty kick in the first half which took the score to 12-3 in favour of the away team.

With captain Scott Chapman in the sin bin, Swindon had it all to do.

The second half was a very different story. Swindon fly half Maycock played a measured game and ensured that he gave his forwards the right platform to play from.

He produced some accurate long range kicks that pinned Grove back on a regular basis. This gave Swindon enough self belief to turn the game on its head.

Swindon soon scored a try through second rower Pete Atkinson and a second penalty from Maycock took the score to 12-11 in favour of Grove.

Paul Wakefield then stepped up for a crash ball in the centre and split the Grove defence with a try. Another try from Wakefield and teammate Nick Warren meant that Swindon ended as victors.

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