Beaconsfield coach Simon Tattersall felt the scoreboard failed to tell the full story after seeing his troops beaten by Royal Wootton Bassett.

Tattersall himself scored his side’s only try in a 38-10 defeat at Oak Lodge Meadow on Saturday – the team’s sixth defeat in eight league matches.

The home team matched their high flying opponents for long periods of the game before a late surge gave the score line a one-sided look which Tattersall felt was harsh on his charges.

He said: “We were beaten by a better side at the end of the day. They were third in the league coming into the game and we competed very, very well for 65 minutes and they ran away with it with a few late tries which was disappointing.

“It was disappointing to concede late because the score line doesn’t really reflect the game but I think it shows the difference between the top sides at the moment and where we are.

“They were a lot more clinical, and they certainly attacked us with the pace that we thought they would do and it caused us problems.”

Beaconsfield came out the blocks quickest and took an early lead with just a couple of minutes on the clock when Tattersall charged over to score.

They away team responded, though, and the game was level at 10-10 when an error gifted the visitors a half-time lead.

“With about five or six minutes to go in the first half we threw an intercepted pass and that was quite costly,” Tattersall said. “It was a bit of a see-saw game and they seized on that mistake and went on from there.

“We knew they’d be a good side and it was about us performing somewhere near our ability, and for 60 minutes we did. We ran out of steam a bit because we were having to defend for long periods of time against a team that ran the ball and kept it very well.

“It was a shame for the guys but, despite it being a heavier defeat than last weekend, it was a lot more positive for us. We’ve now got to beat the teams around us and the game against Wallingford this weekend is one we must win.”

The loss leaves Beaconsfield occupying eighth position in the Southern Counties North table ahead of Saturday’s trip to tenth place Wallingford.