Salisbury's 2^nd XV carried their impressive league form into the Dorset & Wilts Shield competition with a convincing 28 - 7 semi-final win over Swindon at Castle Road on Saturday. This was an excellent match to watch with both sides playing with pace and commitment.

Salisbury started brightly, forwards and backs combining well as they worked sharply through the phases. Swindon's defence held its shape until they conceded a penalty from Travis Bartels on 9 minutes. The visitors soon countered and were awarded a penalty when Salisbury infringed at a scrummage. The kick was missed but Swindon had demonstrated their scrummaging power early on and looked set to dominate this aspect of the match. Salisbury kept their heads; strong running, support and rucking secured plenty of possession resulting in a second penalty conversion for Bartels after 20 minutes. Towards the end of the half the host's passing became less accurate and pressure from the Swindon scrummage began to tell but some outstanding tackling from Salisbury kept them at bay. The hosts finished the half in the ascendency, centre Terry Gilmour gathered a dropped ball to sprint 60 metres for a try. The conversion was missed but Salisbury had established an 11 - 0 half time lead.

The hosts put Swindon under pressure early in the second period, Bartels converted his third penalty within 5 minutes of the restart but Swindon reduced the deficit only minutes later. Their back row broke from a scrum and forwards drove to the line for a converted try on 48 minutes. With the score at 14 -7 the game was far from decided and became a little fragmented, neither side really sustaining periods of possession. Salisbury eventually extended their lead on the hour completing a number of phases close the Swindon line to enable Gilmour to breach the defence for his second try. Skipper Tom Buckingham (pictured) added the extras and with the score at 21 - 7 the visitors began to chase the game presenting Salisbury with a further scoring opportunity in the closing minutes. Excellent support play was finished by replacement scrum half Nigel Thomas and Buckingham added the conversion to decide the match at 28 - 7. Salisbury will face Weymouth in the Shield final at a date yet to be arranged.

Team: Thomas s, Miller c, Bartels, Gilmour, Knight, Buckingham, Raymond, Sutton, Blackborow, Ward, Grant, Buckingham L, Murrell, Saunders, Green. Subs: Chapple, Demain-Grittths, Thomas N, Biggins, Waters, Metson, McLennan.