With both sides sitting in a congested Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South mid-table and only a handful of fixtures remaining, their ambition to achieve a higher placing was evident throughout. Salisbury made the brighter start and were rewarded inside the opening 10 minutes when prop Scotty Neary powered over for the match’s first try. They had been the more threatening from the outset with backs and forwards combining well to sustain pressure. A well-executed driving maul from an attacking lineout was finished by Neary. The conversion attempt drifted wide in the severe cross-wind but Salisbury had an early 5 – 0 lead.

Defences largely held firm for the remainder of the half, with Frome responding only through a penalty on 25 minutes. The hosts were reduced to 14 after a yellow card for holding on at a ruck. Despite this and an urgency to their play, Salisbury could not take full advantage and were only narrowly ahead at halftime. A 5 – 3 lead was a meagre return after a half characterised by strong defensive organisation and typically physical exchanges.

The match changed dramatically within moments of the restart. Frome struck after being gifted a wayward Salisbury cross field kick and space to sprint for the line on 41 minutes. The 8 – 3 lead was short lived. The visitors regained the lead after No8 Mike Adams broke for the line from a scrum 15 metres out. Power, footwork and determination carried him over for the try. Ollie Bate converted to gain a 12 – 8 lead on 49 minutes. What followed was a remarkable period in which both sides traded tries in quick succession.

Frome regained possession immediately from the restart and scored out wide on 51 minutes. However, Salisbury’s Bradley Emanual finished an impressive series of rucks minutes later. Bate added the extras to restore the lead to 19 – 13 but Frome were not deterred. Again, they regained possession quickly from the restart and crossed for the third try to narrow the deficit to 19 – 18 to Salisbury on 56 minutes.

Emanuel breaks through

Momentum swung repeatedly. A fine punt into the host 22 from Rob Crossley provided field position entering the final quarter. A further penalty gave the visitors a lineout followed by a ruck from which scrumhalf James Gamble’s pinpoint accurate pass enabled wing Fraser Wilson to score in the corner. The 24 – 18 lead did not last.

As the match entered the final ten minutes, Frome regained the momentum and a slender 25 – 24 lead after another try. The sustained attacking tempo and pressure resulted in a yellow card for Salisbury and, having been reduced to 14, they were clearly on the backfoot for the remainder of the match. Frome finished the stronger adding a further try and a penalty to seal their 33 – 24 victory.

The result leaves the mid-table picture even tighter, with several sides, including Salisbury, Frome, Devizes and Swanage & Wareham, separated by only a handful of points heading into the final weeks of the season.

After an Easter break, Salisbury will host Corsham at Castle Road on 11 April.

Match pictures https://www.salisburyrfc.org/photos/20260328-frome-vs-1st-xv-1169344.html

Pictures: John Palmer