Salisbury lit up the gloom in Bracknell with a fine performance to gain a victory that has been coming for several weeks. Ollie Bowden gathered a long clearance and made a fine break forcing the home side to bundle the ball into touch. The Green and White forwards gathered the line out and rumbled forward before Matt Dawson touched down, Tom Lane adding the conversion points. Matt Loader was next to break away and when Bracknell infringed Lane added a penalty.
The irrepressible Bowden made another superb catch and break, following up his kick ahead beautifully to make the tackle and the home side were penalised for holding on to the ball. Lane kicked for touch, and the forwards repeated their control at this line out with Dawson again the beneficiary; Lane added the extras.
Salisbury were enjoying themselves and when the forwards again drove forward the home side were forced to concede another penalty which drifted agonisingly wide. Salisbury shrugged this off, and good work by Christian Metson, Craig Edwards and Rob Best piled on the pressure resulting in another penalty, Lane making no mistake this time. Bracknell rallied and despite heroic defence their forwards rumbled forward and were awarded a penalty try, duly converted by Chris Laidler to reduce the half time deficit to 7-20.
The hosts were a much improved outfit in the second half and took the game to Salisbury. Metson was a rock in defence and Josh Green’s forwards were immense in the contact area. The balance of power looked to be changing when a speculative kick from defence by Bracknell was not dealt with by a trio of players and Ben Yates following up was able to go over unopposed for a converted score. Salisbury responded with more pressure and Dawson completed his hat trick from the back of a maul, Lane converting.
Bracknell scored another try with a break down the left wing but were unable to penetrate again, Tom Ranaboldo characterising the defensive effort stripping the ball in a tackle and lumbering forward scattering opponents in his path. Salisbury were good value for this win and were much more assured in protecting their lead in the vital last quarter of the game.
Coach Neil Loader said “It was a gutsy performance, we carried on from the Ivybridge game, we showed good intensity and Bracknell got a shock but went up a gear at half time. Our defence is rock solid and we made good tactical decisions to pin them in the corner in the second half.”
Salisbury take on fellow strugglers Launceston this Saturday at Castle Road, kick off is at 2.15pm, and all support is most welcome.
Neil Tonge