The visitors had swept aside Chippenham 52 - 10 at home in October, but there was no repeat of that margin on a gloomy, wet and windswept afternoon. Played at high tempo on Chippenham’s excellent all weather surface, the match was fiercely contested from the outset. Salisbury enjoyed early dominance in the scrum, and it was from this platform that they created the first clear chance on 11 minutes. Skipper Bobby Brown charged for the line from an attacking lineout but was held up. Moments later Salisbury ran back a goal line drop-out with pace and width, only to knock on. Pressure finally told on 17 minutes. Driving Chippenham off their own scrum, No.8 Mike Adams picked from the base and powered over for the opening try, converted by Mica Garvey Ortiz for a 7 - 0 lead.

Despite the high work rate of centre Roy Waters and the incisive running of wing Dan Hammond, Salisbury found it difficult to break down a determined Chippenham midfield. The hosts struck back on the half-hour, kicking a penalty to the corner and executing a perfectly formed 15 metre driving maul for a converted try to level at 7 - 7.

The worsening conditions hampered both sides in the closing stages of the half, with lineout inaccuracy and some wayward kicking preventing further progress. Chippenham finished the stronger, landing a penalty on 39 minutes to take a 10 - 7 lead into halftime, with Brown temporarily off injured.

The rain and wind intensified after the restart, contributing to further handling errors and inaccurate kicking from both teams. Despite this, both sides showed ambition and were willing to move the ball at pace. Chippenham threatened first on 46 minutes, stringing phases together and attacking out wide before knocking on with the line beckoning. The visitors responded through a powerful break from Bradley Emanuel, earning a penalty and opting for an attacking scrum on 54 minutes. Adams again made ground from the base, but a loose pass moments later gifted Chippenham an interception and an easy run in under the posts. The conversion stretched the home side’s lead to 17 - 7 on 55 minutes.
Salisbury hit back almost immediately. Prop Aidan Gill broke and offloaded for hooker Scott Neary to finish, with Garvey Ortiz converting to narrow the deficit to 17 - 14.

A further score followed on 63 minutes when wing Theo Andre Browning broke from a ruck, with Emanuel in support. Emanuel’s powerful 30 metre surge saw him break tackles and race clear for Salisbury’s third try, converted once more by Garvey Ortiz to reclaim the lead at 21 - 17. But the advantage was short lived. A wayward midfield pass handed Chippenham a simple intercept and an unopposed sprint to the line, the conversion restoring the home side’s lead at 24 - 21 with ten minutes remaining.

With the match slipping away, skipper Brown returned to the field. In the dying moments Salisbury sustained some pressure, winning a series of rucks deep in the hosts’ half. With the final play of the match, they earned a penalty 25 metres out. Brown opted to run, he tapped quickly and battered his way through the defence in a determined solo effort to score the decisive try. Garvey Ortiz added his fourth conversion to seal a hard earned 28 - 24 victory.

The bonus point win keeps Salisbury firmly in the promotion race. They travel to Corsham next Saturday.

See here for a selection of Clive Barnwell's photos from the game