A DEPLETED Witney were swatted aside by Swindon as they slipped to a 48-0 defeat in their RFU Intermediate Cup Southern Counties Final.

Unavailability and injuries meant just six first-team players started in Wiltshire, while the full-strength hosts showed their class to run out comfortable winners.

It was the Oxfordshire outfit’s second consecutive defeat, after losing their 100 per cent record in Southern Counties North to Reading the previous weekend.

A more experienced and more physical Swindon were too strong for their opponents and led 17-0 at the break, despite playing into the wind.

They kept the scoreboard ticking over throughout the second half, stopping just short of the 50-point mark at the final whistle.

The home side fully deserved their win, but the contest provided a valuable lesson for the more inexperienced players of the visiting squad, many of whom were making their first-team debuts.

Swindon progress to the South West Counties final and are now just two wins from a showpiece fixture at Twickenham.

Witney, meanwhile, remain 14 points clear at the top of Southern Counties North.

Elsewhere, Gosford All Blacks are still at the summit of the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier after their 61-25 triumph over Bletchley.

Chipping Norton are just three points behind, thanks to their 67-24 success at Drifters.

Wheatley ran out 57-5 winners at Oxford in their derby.