Salisbury started half asleep and New Milton gained an early try following an impressive run round right on the edge of the touch-line.

Salisbury re-bounded with some verve and Rhys Williams scored with a very impressive team try in the left hand corner.  He should have scored a second time, but the referee judged that the ball had been dropped.

Confusion abounded as New Milton kicked straight to Salisbury’s try-line, but we responded with some very impressive rugby. Salisbury played very well, and the game should have been ours, but the 7-minute halves of this large festival meant that our consistent pressure failed to realise a try.  If the halves had been longer it would have been a very different result.

Match 2:         Chobham 2    Salisbury 0

After the positive play of the first game Salisbury seemed to be half asleep.  The score would have been much worse had it not been for excellent kicking from Josh Ellis and Harry Mould.  I have since discovered that Chobham have a ‘D Team’ so the A team that we faced must have been their very best.

Match 3:         Basingstoke 0           Salisbury 1

Salisbury recovered much of their form and dominated most of the first half.  Daniel Harris made an excellent run, had he been 6 inches taller, would have scored.  But it was left to Tom McFarland to scoop up the ball and score.

Salisbury defended hard in the final half we thought Basingstoke had scored in the final play but the referee adjudged that the ball was held up.  A lucky escape.

Ben got kicked in the chin and Mary was a pony (a little hoarse… from shouting).

Match 4          Alton 2                        Salisbury 0

A hard fought game with Josh Ellis injured and Harry Mould stepping into Big Josh’s place. Both Tom and Seb also got hurt during this physical match.  The boys defended with vigour, but our opponents were just that little bit better.

It was mathematically impossible for Salisbury to progress any further, so with a heavy heart, we packed up and headed home.  Looking forward to some training at home next week.  We have the skills but we do need to work on focussing and using them.