Senior Rugby Reports for Saturday 4th November 2017
Full reports of the 1st XV victory over Wimborne and the United XV narrow defeat to Bournemouth are available here...
Salisbury 63-22 Wimborne
A large crowd at Castle Road were both cheered and intoxicated by the heady and extravagant brand of rugby displayed by Salisbury as they despatched their nearest rivals Wimborne with some gusto. For twenty minutes the visitors laid siege to the Salisbury line but the hosts were able to break and score twice through Callum Mactaggart and Dave Tonge, Matt Loader kicking both conversions.
The game now swung in favour of the home side and Harry Whittington crossed for a score before breaking again and sending Tonge scurrying for the line and a bonus point. Wimborne could only manage a solitary riposte and the sides turned around 28-5.
Within a minute of the restart replacement front row Aiden Gill showed an extraordinary turn of foot and burst clear to score before Wimborne pulled a further score back. Chris Beaumont was next on the score sheet before Loader was sent clear by Tonge for his first try but twenty fifth conversion of the season.
The city side were in the ascendancy and, with the introduction of Rory MacTaggart, were fielding siblings in the same side for the first time since the Kay twins ruled the breakdown. Dom Porter was enjoying another fine day with the ball in hand, driving hard at the visitors’ defence with devastating results, and man of the match Tonge was pulling the strings as attacks continued from all angles.
The loose play allowed Wimborne two further scores but Salisbury were also rewarded by Scott Neary, crossing for his first try of the season, and the ever reliable Christian Metson skipping over for a score. Whittington, taking over the kicking duties from the metronomic Loader, added a couple of conversions, for a nine try victory, 63-22.
Skipper Josh Green was pleased stating “This was arguably our strongest side, allowing that Rob Larcombe is sidelined, and we were expecting a good result. It is especially nice to score a lot of points (after last season)”, but offered the cautionary note “We need to tighten our defence, we let them score four times, and we also have to replicate our home form on the road.”
Next week fourth placed Salisbury make the long drive to second placed Banbury in what should be an interesting match between two of the division’s heavyweights.
Salisbury United 30-41 Bournemouth 2nd XV
Salisbury United played their part in an entertaining end to end game, but came off second best to a slick Bournemouth side. Struggling at scrum time and taking time to settle, Salisbury went behind to a soft score before skipper Mike Dauwalder powered over with Richard Knight adding the conversion. The sides then traded penalties before a second Bournemouth try rattled the home side. A second Knight penalty and a well worked Rory Duncan try put Salisbury ahead 20-17 at the end of a rather messy first half. The second half was a different matter, with both sides serving up a treat for the crowd but three unanswered Bournemouth tries put the skids under Salisbury, before tries from Dauwalder and Ash Wright brought the game within reach, only for a final Bournemouth score to seal a 30-41 victory for the visitors.
