Salisbury defeated Swanage & Wareham a second time in consecutive Saturdays at Castle Road but this time in the first round of the Dorset & Wilts 1^st XV Cup. The host's 29 - 10 win earned them a semi-final place against Bournemouth on the 26^th of November.

Much of the first half was evenly contested with neither side gaining the upper-hand.  It was, however, clear from the kick-off that Swans were eager to avenge the previous week's defeat. They were playing with urgency and their scrummage troubled Salisbury early on. The hosts held their shape defensively but failed to exploit some clear chances when presented. The deadlock wasn't broken until substitute fly-half Travis Bartels converted a penalty on 30 minutes. The visitors immediately struck back; having kicked for the corner they scored from a driving-maul. Salisbury attacked from the restart and where awarded a distant penalty which Bartels only narrowly failed to convert. Moments later they pressed again and sustained pressure enabled scrumhalf Charlie Jennings (pictured) to find a gap and break for the line. The unconverted try gave the hosts a slender 8 - 5 halftime lead.

Salisbury started the second period promisingly but a loose pass was intercepted on Swans' 22 for their wing to run the length for an unconverted try only minutes into the half. Now trailing 10 - 8, the hosts played with greater tempo and were eventually rewarded after setting-up a driving-maul from an attacking lineout. Substitute front-rower Phil Sutton scored and Bartels added the extras to restore Salisbury's lead at 15 - 10 on 57 minutes. The host's superior fitness became apparent in the final quarter as both defences began to loosen. Arnie Vyas made a blistering break in midfield to set-up a near certain scoring opportunity but failed to complete the final pass.

Salisbury didn't secure the lead until the last 10 minutes when Jennings moved laterally from a scrummage to cleverly create the opening for Vyas to score. Bartels converted to extend the lead to 22 - 10. Within last few minutes Bartels broke down the left wing to present Josh Green with a clear scoring opportunity. He then added his third conversion to conclude the match at 29 - 10.

Salisbury will resume league action next weekend away to Maidenhead who sit only 2 places below them in South West 1 East.

Team: Richard Roe, Tom Pottage, Rob Larcombe, Simon Quick, Leon Taylor, Charlie Jennings, Andy Herriott. Luke Esnouf, Dan Hobbs, Gareth Blackborow (Capt), Arnie Vyas, Gordon Grant, Shane Johnstone, Jon Kay, Hamish Morton. Subs: Phil Sutton (on for Esnouf), Josh Green (on for Morton), Travis Bartels (on for Herriott), Tom Emmett (on Larcombe).