Match Report & Gallery
1st XV vs Launceston
14-7
Saturday 14 January 2017, 02:30pm
This match was always going to be a battle, with so much at stake for these two sides for whom the spectre of relegation is all too real, and it lived up to its billing.
In bright sunshine the sides locked antlers and it was Launceston who were shading possession but the bone crunching defence of Salisbury kept them at bay with Ollie Bowden making one superb try saving effort in front of his posts. The home side looked to be gaining in confidence but a poor offload during a break saw Launceston in for the opening try from Ryan Western, converted by Frazer Honey.
Salisbury dusted themselves down and began to put pressure on the visitors which was rewarded when the industrious Matt Dawson superbly marshalled a driving maul to touch down, Tom Lane added the extras and the sides were level.
The game continued in the same vein with both sides showing their nerves with mistakes aplenty. Salisbury lost centre Christian Metson with a broken jaw but continued to apply pressure but could not add to the score.
It was into the final quarter when John Goldsmith timed his run to perfection and scattered the Launceston defence for a fine try and once again the metronomic boot of Lane made sure of the conversion.
Both sides now applied themselves in the hunt for the advantage but Salisbury’s ferocious tackling, led by man of the match Jonny Kay, kept them at bay. The front five dug deep and when Dave Tonge booted the ball high into the crowd for the referee to blow for no side the joy on the pitch and on the sidelines was palpable, although not so among the Cornish contingent.
Skipper Josh Green said “That showed our improvement. Before Christmas it was the sort of game we were unable to shut out, but now that we have done this we can take huge confidence into the remainder of the season.”
We were pleased to welcome Les Baker from Launceston to the game. Les had played for Salisbury for two seasons, 1956-58, while doing his National Service in the area – and even brought his 50-year-old fixture booklets along with him!
Report – Neil Tonge
Photos – John Palmer
In bright sunshine the sides locked antlers and it was Launceston who were shading possession but the bone crunching defence of Salisbury kept them at bay with Ollie Bowden making one superb try saving effort in front of his posts. The home side looked to be gaining in confidence but a poor offload during a break saw Launceston in for the opening try from Ryan Western, converted by Frazer Honey.
Salisbury dusted themselves down and began to put pressure on the visitors which was rewarded when the industrious Matt Dawson superbly marshalled a driving maul to touch down, Tom Lane added the extras and the sides were level.
The game continued in the same vein with both sides showing their nerves with mistakes aplenty. Salisbury lost centre Christian Metson with a broken jaw but continued to apply pressure but could not add to the score.
It was into the final quarter when John Goldsmith timed his run to perfection and scattered the Launceston defence for a fine try and once again the metronomic boot of Lane made sure of the conversion.
Both sides now applied themselves in the hunt for the advantage but Salisbury’s ferocious tackling, led by man of the match Jonny Kay, kept them at bay. The front five dug deep and when Dave Tonge booted the ball high into the crowd for the referee to blow for no side the joy on the pitch and on the sidelines was palpable, although not so among the Cornish contingent.
Skipper Josh Green said “That showed our improvement. Before Christmas it was the sort of game we were unable to shut out, but now that we have done this we can take huge confidence into the remainder of the season.”
We were pleased to welcome Les Baker from Launceston to the game. Les had played for Salisbury for two seasons, 1956-58, while doing his National Service in the area – and even brought his 50-year-old fixture booklets along with him!
Report – Neil Tonge
Photos – John Palmer