SWINDON College Old Boys got their league season off to a winning start with a 17-8 win over Chipping Norton to add to their cup success the week before.

Despite spending large periods of the match with their backs to the walls the hosts were able to grind out an opening day win.

Charlie Grabe scored the only home points of the first half with a confident kick after five minutes as Norton struggled to settle in the opening exchanges.

Chipping Norton managed to level in the dying seconds of the first period and slotted a penalty to make it 3-3.

Swindon College took the lead early in the second half as the forwards dogged effort was rewarded when Adam Reeves got the final downward pressure on a the ball just over the Norton try line.

Despite the kick being on the sideline Grabe converted to add the extra two points and gave his side some breathing space at 10-3.

The forwards and backs worked well for the Old Boys minutes later as Eoin Crean and Toby Haynes exchanged several passes, slicing through the visitors defence, but a forward pass stopped their charge.

The College pack however were able to turn over the resultant scrum and scrum half Dan Thomas pirouetted over the line to score and once again Grabe added the extra points 17-3.

Chipping Norton replied as the opposition winger dived over for his team’s first try, but they were unable to secure the conversion.

Old Boys were able to hold out until the final whistle to record their back-to-back wins for the first time in over a year.

In Southern Counties South, Supermarine lost heavily, 3-69 to North Dorset, at South Marston, in their season opener.