SWINDON College Old Boys finally got their season under way with a convincing 34-9 win over Abingdon.

Their Berks/Bucks and Oxon Premier Division season was due to start last week, but College had their game against Alchester postponed because of their withdrawal from the league.

Head coach Mark Lea was happy with the win, but believes it could have been much, much more.

“Any bonus-point win in your first game is good but we probably left an additional five tries out there just by not having the composure,” Lea said.

“I’m pleased we picked up a bonus point. We can’t ask for more that but hopefully next week we will play with more composure.

“It could have been a lot more if we went through our phases and not played so frantically, we would have put four or five more past them.”

A fine debut performance from full-back Florin Palcau saw him claim 14 points, with one try, three conversions and a penalty.

Other tries came from Matty Allen, Gareth Davies, Tucker Blinkhorn and Joe Smedley, helping Lea’s side claim their first points of the campaign following their relegation from Southern Counties North last term.

Lea believes the delayed start to the season, following last week’s postponement, could be the reason for the lack of composure and is now something they’ll work on.

“All of our preparations, pre-season and training were geared towards that weekend,” he said. “We got the guys up high and then there was that low, so we had to try and pick them up again in the last weekend, which was not ideal.

“I’m not going to complain. When we play with a bit on continuity and composure, we looked really good. As coaches, we are really pleased with that, we need to do it for longer.

“It gives us something to work on and it is positive stuff to work on too. The boys did do it but not for long enough. As coaches, we are never 100 per cent pleased.”