On Sunday afternoon Salisbury Colts entertained Wimborne at Castle Road in the Under 18s Cup fixture. Despite the recent wet weather the pitch was in good condition and everything looked good for an entertaining afternoon’s game of Rugby.

This was the Teams second fixture in two weeks with Salisbury losing to Wimborne at Wimborne the previous weekend in horrendous conditions. Both were very keen to make their mark on the fixture so performance from the kick off was important. Salisbury received the ball and mounted a very early strong attack that fell just short of scoring. From the subsequent scrum Wimborne returned the compliment on Salisbury but their attack ended in an unconverted try. This set the stage for the first half with both sides battling hard for the game. Wimborne had the early edge in Rucks, Scrums and Lineouts making them able to put together a series of attacks with only the fierce defending by the Salisbury that kept Wimborne out but after nearly half an hour of play Wimborne, in a Maul, pushed Salisbury over the line for the second Wimborne try. The fact that Wimborne pushed them over their line added fire to Salisbury’s game and from the restart they put in a furious attack which ended in a try for Centre Boyd Rouse which was converted by Fly Half Marcus Beer. From that point Salisbury started to take the upper hand and put together some very good phases of play and convincing attacks but failed to turn the play into points. Wimborne were also working hard and attacking as hard as Salisbury, only the strong Salisbury defence prevented a series of tries but Wimborne did manage one more score before half time punishing some loose play and broke down the Wing to score their third try just on half time. Salisbury went in the wrong side of a 7:19 score line but from their performance at the end of the half time it looked like Salisbury were going to catch Wimborne but a win seemed unlikely.

Salisbury took the restart, chased the ball well, and contested at the Ruck that formed, won it, scrum half Williams got the ball out to Beer who broke the Wimborne line and off loaded to Brendan Musgrave who scored Salisbury’s second try converted by Beer. What then followed was almost a repeat of Salisbury’s win against Swanage and Wareham when they put up the most tenacious performance I have seen in a long time. With a change of pace across the squad, Salisbury started to dominate Wimborne defeating them in the majority of Rucks, Mauls, Line outs and Scrums, playing with confidence and style. When Wimborne did have possession they couldn’t break the Salisbury defensive line and travelled sideways rather than towards the Salisbury line often loosing the ball in an error or ruck. After a furious period of play another good break from a Ruck and fast hands from Beer put the backs through and enabled Musgrave to cross the line for Salisbury’s third try converted by Beer to take the lead. Much more of the same followed with the Salisbury pack holding and defeating Wimborne in set pieces and the blistering defence just stopping Wimborne flat every time they looked like putting phases together. On the half hour of the second half following a battering of the Wimborne defence on their line Williams darted through from a Ruck to score Salisbury’s fourth try, converted by Beer to give him a strike rate of 100%. Both sides contested right up to the final whistle with Wimborne ending the game with an unconverted try, final score was 28:24 to Salisbury who will now face Swanage and Wareham in the next round.

It is difficult to pick out individuals in this true Team performance, credit must go the Salisbury Front Row of Paffett, Kay and Edwards who consistently bested the Wimborne Scrum, again the voice of James Richards from in the Scrum encouraging the pack, Jake Williams at Scrum Half and the kicking game and 100% strike rate of Fly Half Marcus Beer but in fact this was another true Team performance from the Colts of which the Club can be proud.

On Sunday afternoon Salisbury Colts travelled down to Wareham to play Swanage and Wareham in the merit table fixture. Despite over night frost and some early rain the pitch at Wareham was in good condition and the weather was set fine for an entertaining afternoon’s game of Rugby.

Salisbury Colts entertained Dorchester at Castle Road on Sunday afternoon in the Round 10 Merit Table fixture. The conditions were wet and muddy with a strong wind blowing down the pitch which had an obvious affect on how both Teams played. From the kick off Dorchester put Salisbury under pressure and looked like getting an early score but Salisbury defended well and after some hard work pushed Dorchester back down into their own half where the determined assault by the home forwards caused the visitors to concede a penalty inside their own half on the ten metre line. With a clear statement of intent Salisbury Fly Half Marcus Beer opted for the kick and took the three points. The game then settled down into a straight competition with both sides trying to take charge of the game. Dorchester kept up a steady assault on the Salisbury defence with the Home Team working hard to keep them out but after sustained pressure Dorchester struggled over to score their first converted try. That score from the visitors galvanized the home team who picked up their pace and with good combinations of forward and backs plays scored three times, two for Scrum Half Jake Williams and one from Number eight Angus Walby. Salisbury went in at half time leading 20:7.

The second half gave Dorchester the wind advantage and this allowed them to put together a phase of strong attacks which led to their second try which was converted. Salisbury started the second half slightly of the pace and gave away a number of unnecessary penalties, this coupled with the wind allowed Dorchester to keep up a sustained attack and they were rewarded with their third try which they failed to convert. The game turned on that point and Salisbury’s attacks re-doubled. Working combinations of forward and backs, strong counter rucking and some very good set piece work at the scrum and lineout Salisbury kept up a steady pressure on the Dorchester line and were rewarded with a try for Beer and a third try for Williams. Salisbury were unlucky not to score more tries as Dorchester started to buckle under the attack and became frustrated amongst themselves. The game finished with Salisbury convincing winners at 34:19. On the day Salisbury were the better side in both attack and defence and made best use of the wind advantage in the first half and were able to neutralize it for Dorchester in the second. Special mention goes to Jake Williams for his hat trick and some excellent work at the base of the scum and kicking, Jack Paffett for his scummaging and work in attack and Rucks and to Marcus Beer and Tom Vaughan-Edwards for their impressive tackle rate. Salisbury travel to Swanage and Wareham next Sunday for the Round 11 Merit Table fixture.

On Sunday afternoon Salisbury Colts travelled to Ivel Barbarians in Yeovil for the return Div 2 South Merit Table fixture. The conditions proved excellent for a game of rugby with bright sunshine and little wind to spoil things. From the kick off Salisbury showed clear intent that the game would not be the close match that happened at Castle Road last November. Salisbury clearly intended to dominate and with pressure on the Ivel defence from kick off they scored their first try after 5 minutes of play when Jack Paffett bulled over to score. Salisbury maintained their pressure and domination with hard tackling and some very good handling in the backs and crushing drives from the forwards that le to their next score which came when several phases of play ended with a Ruck on the Ivel line Fly Half Marcus Beer picked up a pass from Scrum Half Jake Williams broke through the Ivel line and dived over to score the second Salisbury try which he converted. Ivel’s game then got worse when, chasing a Williams box kick from a scrum that followed the restart Beer picked up a dropped Ivel ball broke through the Ivel defence to run from the half way line to score his second try which he convererted. The game carried on in much the same way with Salisbury defending well and attacking at every opportunity and Ivel gaining little advantage until they managed to make the best of a loose ball and drove over the Salisbury line for their first try. Coming up to half time Salisbury forwards were rewarded for their sustained pressure on the Ivel defence when, from a ruck, flanker Ollie Miller pushed through the Ivel pack  to score Salisbury’s fourth try converted by Beer. Just short of half time Salisbury went over again when Flanker Jonny Eden-Hamilton, after taking a good pass from Boyd Rouse at twelve, broke a tackle to run in under the posts for Salisbury’s fifth try again converted by Beer. Salisbury went in leading 5:33 at half time.

After defeating Dorchester in the semi-final last week Salisbury Colts made the trip to North Dorset on Sunday afternoon to face Wimborne in the U17s Cup Final. The game had the makings of a classic contest with both sides having performed well in their progress to the final and both starting with high expectations. From the kick off both sides showed their intentions, Salisbury pressed Wimborne hard leading to a penalty after five minutes which was kicked wide by Captain Marcus Beer. From the restart Wimborne attacked well and after some hard work by their forwards they released the ball to their backs who used their pace broke through the Salisbury defence for their first try.  The game then settled down into an even contest across the park with both Teams alternatively attacking and defending.  The Salisbury pack worked well in both the scrum and line outs winning their share of both. Where Wimborne had the edge was in the ruck and where they really punished Salisbury on the Wings. Despite their best efforts Salisbury leaked another three unanswered tries and gave away a penalty to go in at half time 25:0 down.

Salisbury started the second half with a strong and furious attack from the kick off that ended with Beer beating four players to score Salisbury’s first try.  Wimborne countered quickly and scored their fourth try a few minutes later. The game came to a halt not long after that due to an injury to Salisbury player Alex McGoldrick who was carried off with an ankle injury that will see him out until the New Year.  That wasn’t the last injury for Salisbury as not long after Will Powell went down in a ruck and play was halted whilst he was treated. The Teams switched pitches to carry on and enable the Air Ambulance to pick up Will and take him to Salisbury Hospital where later the news was good for his injury and we hope to see him back soon.

The game restarted and with Salisbury flanker Jonny Eden Hamilton scoring a good try after hard work by the forwards.  Wimborne from the restart broke through Salisbury’s defence to score and answering try and again shortly after. Salisbury played valiantly fighting right down to the final whistle ending the game 44:10 down. The game was played in a great spirit with Salisbury never giving up despite the pressure and score line. Special mention goes to Ollie Miller, Tom Vaughan Edwards ands Adam Wookey who all played out of position and to Jamie Eden-Hamilton who played up a year. Despite the defeat Salisbury can be proud of their performance and move on the play Swanage and Wareham in the Merit Table next Sunday.

Salisbury Colts entertained Dorchester on Sunday afternoon in the re-arranged Under 17s Cup Semi Final. Conditions were wet and muddy which had an affect on both Teams performance. From the kick off both sides tried to take charge of the game with Salisbury starting at a fast pace trying to drive Dorchester off the pitch but Dorchester defended well and kept coming back at Salisbury. Neither side could get the upper hand, set pieces were fairly even and the conditions didn’t allow fast open rugby. Salisbury looked the better side and when the game settled down they managed to keep up their attacks and, after several phases of play, the ball went out to the backs who moved the ball quickly wide allowing Tom Hopper to score in the corner, the conversion from Marcus Beer just slipped wide of the posts. This galvanized Dorchester who put Salisbury under pressure from the kick off and they in turn were rewarded with an unconverted try just on the stroke of half time. The Teams went in honours even at 5:5 for the half.

The second half continued much like the first although Dorchester’s frustration started to show and, after a warning from the Referee, they lost a forward to the sin bin with Beer taking three points from the penalty. Salisbury took advantage of the 14 man Dorchester team and after good play from the forwards taking the ball up the backs went wide again for Hopper to get his second, converted by Beer. After that the game settled into an even match with both sides attacking and defending in their turn. Salisbury were unlucky not have a third try when the last pass in another backs move didn’t quite make Hopper’s hand on the wing. With Dorchester back to 15 they threw everything they had left into attacks but Salisbury defended well and at the final whistle went in winner 15:5 after a game played well by both sides in what can best be described as testing conditions. Salisbury now face Wimborne in the Cup Final next Sunday art the neutral ground of North Dorset.

On Sunday afternoon Salisbury Colts entertained Ivel Barbarians at Castle Road in a close fought Merit Table fixture. The conditions were excellent for rugby with bright sunshine and little wind to spoil things. From the kick off both sides showed clear intent to dominate with Salisbury pressuring the Ivel defence and Ivel responding well. Salisbury’s early pressure was rewarded when Fly Half Marcus Beer picked up a loose ball from a tackle, broke through the Ivel defence to run half the length of the pitch well supported by Jonny Eden-Hamilton who took the off load on the five metre line and scored Salisbury’s first try which Beer converted. The game carried on in much the same way with both teams gaining and loosing the upper hand, set pieces went both ways although Ivel had a slight edge in the scrum at times. Midway through the first half Ivel managed to break through the Salisbury defence punishing a handling error and scored their first try which they failed to convert. Coming up to half time Salisbury forwards were rewarded for their sustained pressure on the Ivel defence when from a ruck number eight Angus Walby crashed nearly through, off loaded to Beer who drove through the Ivel twelve to score under the posts and converted his own try. Salisbury went in leading 14:5.

Colts beat Bridport 16 - 12