BRADFORD on Avon head coach Dave George would like to add a silver lining to his side’s season before Christmas as they prepare to host Swindon College Old Boys in the Dorset & Wilts Senior Vase semi-final on Saturday.

The Ashley Lane side warmed up for this weekend’s showpiece clash with a dramatic 25-22 Dorset & Wilts One North success at Swindon 2nd on Saturday, scrum-half Liam Gibson holding his nerve to boot the winning penalty with minutes remaining.

That result kept Bradford on the coat tails of unbeaten league leaders Corsham and second-placed Warminster, but George would like to have something to adorn the club’s trophy cabinet before the title battle gets into full swing.

“If we could get to the final there might be the chance for a bit of silverware before Christmas, but it’s only the semi final at the moment so we’re not looking that far ahead,’’ said George.

Jonny Bates’ wedding, a stag do and injuries meant Bradford were down to the bare XV at Swindon and George admits it was reflected in his side’s first-half performance, after which they trailed 22-10.

“They (Swindon) were a big, physical outfit and we got penalised a bit, but we had a bit of a chat at half-time to put it mildly,’’ he added. “The second half was 100 per cent better.”

Ben Sheppard, Tom Bartlett, Andrew Twinney and Ieuan Osborne crossed for tries for the visitors, Gibson adding a conversion and they landing the three-pointer that secured the result.

Melksham are a little further back in fourth after they won 21-15 at Frome 2nd.

The visitors were first to score with a timely intercepted pass by Ben Brown winning the race for the line, but Frome ramped up the pressure and a try and penalty took them into the lead.

In the second half, debut winger Jake Spooner collected a stray ball and scored after a run down the right wing, fly-half Callum Hurn adding the extras.

Further pressure from the visitors resulted in a penalty again slotted by Hurn to ease his side clear but Frome rallied with a converted try to level the scores.

However, Melksham kept their composure, pressurising the home team in their half and Hurn booted two more penalties to wrap up victory.