SWANAGE and Wareham captain Robert Elford scored the all-important fourth try in a comprehensive 23-8 victory at fellow relegation candidates Reading Abbey.

Swans’ bonus points win saw the two sides swap places, with the Swans now in 10th position and, more importantly, out of the relegation zone.

Swans were rocked by an injury to James van Tuyl early on, while the Purbeckers also gave away a colossal eight penalties inside the opening 10 minutes.

Fortunately for the visitors, Reading Abbey failed to score and Swans were rewarded with a try by Charlie Parish after 21 minutes.

Winger David Price-Smith then added a second try soon afterwards, before prop John Sheldrake dived over to increase Swans’ lead to 15-0 at the break.

Abbey did not give up, though, with full-back Jack Parsons kicking a penalty and winger Gavin Dampies crashing over to deduce the deficit to 15-8.

A five-point victory was needed for Swans to exchange places with their hosts and it was Elford who turned up in the right place for his team’s fourth try, finishing off an impressive run from Price-Smith to secure the extra point.

Parish then slotted over a penalty to put the Swans more than two scores ahead 10 minutes from time.

Swans: Wilcox, Chadwick, van Tuyl (Dunsford), Prior, Price-Smith, Parish, Tomes, Sheldrake, Elford, Andrews (Audley), Burgess, Penney (Collins), Desmond, Jones, Wright.

• Ellingham & Ringwood coach Phil Osman insisted there were “exciting times ahead at the club” despite a narrow final day defeat against Winchester in London & South East Division Three.

The New Forest side went down 20-15 at the Raymond Brown Memorial Ground.

Prop Oli Grant scored a first-half try and Andy Weeks added a conversion as well as a penalty to make the half-time score 17-10 to Winchester.

Charlie Cockram went over in the second half for Ellingham, but despite throwing everything in the final few minutes, Osman’s men came up just short.