Buckingham 29 – 34 Salisbury
22nd. October 2022: Nine years had passed since Salisbury last visited Buckingham and the visitors were keen not to have a repeat of that resounding defeat. The sides occupied the bottom two places in the division and were both in desperate need of a win.
Salisbury, playing in their change strip of Blue and Gold were quickly out of the blocks to send Matthew Woodhouse (pictured) in on the left wing, Within minutes Buckingham had responded and an added conversion gave them the lead. The match then took on a familiar look with both sides spurning opportunities and making mistakes although the visitors were dominating the line out and the scrummage forcing their hosts to live off of scraps of possession.
Centre Benedict Wheeler restored Salisbury’ slender lead and Jack Fitzgerald added the conversion before sensing a gap and adding another score himself shortly after. Bucks responded by scoring from the only line out they had won in the half but, on the stroke of half time Sandy Wheatley wriggled over to give the city side an 8 point advantage at the break.
Buckingham drew first blood in the second half but Woodhouse sped home for his second score before the hosts added a penalty and, with both sides visibly tiring, then took advantage of some dreadful Salisbury tackling to level the scores at 27 apiece. The conversion had the home support in raptures as they scented victory but a superb rally in the final minute saw Woodhouse complete his hat trick, Fitzgerald converting, and Salisbury were hanging on grimly for no side and the five point win.
Next week Salisbury host local rivals Devizes who are sure to be looking to avenge last season’s double defeat. There is still work to do for Salisbury, lots of work, but their confidence should be much improved.
Report: Neil Tonge
Photo: John Palmer