UNDERSTRENGTH Warminster found hosts Supermarine too hot to handle as the South Marston booked their place in the Dorset & Wilts 1st XV Vase final.

The afternoon did not start well for Warminster when a late withdrawal meant shifting full-back Scott Blaszkiw out of position into the centre.

It got even worse for Blaszkiw when within the first five minutes he had a heavy collision with his opposite number, playing on until the 25-minute mark forcing flanker Dean Priestman to fill the gap.

The visitors, led by skipper John McCredie, then lost wing Herbeline Biscette to the sin-bin for a trip and Marine took advantage to score five first-half tries against a struggling defence.

Quick tries at the start of the second-half rubber-stamped the home side’s triumph but Warminster never gave up and for a 15-minute spell, put pressure on the Supermarine defence for the first time in the match.

The amber and blues scrum was much the stronger and pushed the Supermarine pack back, flanker Dave Bowman, on his first first XV appearance being prominent.

Marine lost two players to the sin-bin and with three minutes left, Warminster got the score they deserved when fly-half Gavin Pratt spotted a gap on the blindside and broke to the right.

His chip over the top was pounced on by Biscette for the consolation try.

Warminster’s second string are into the semi finals of the county shield after Marlborough were unable to raise a side for their last-eight clash.

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