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.