Salisbury began their Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South campaign with a 40-24 home win over North Dorset, overturning an early deficit in a lively opening match at Castle Road on Saturday. Five tries secured a bonus point for the hosts after a contest that swung back and forth well into the second half.

Debutant fly-half Reuben Smith opened the scoring with a third-minute penalty, but North Dorset soon found their feet. They crossed in the fifth minute after a well-executed driving maul. A missed tackle enabled the visitors to break Salisbury’s defence on 20 minutes followed by a converted try minutes later to the establish a 17 – 3 lead entering the second quarter. Salisbury were struggling to maintain any continuity in possession. They could not dent a well organised and robust North Dorset defence. They did however, seem untroubled and began to provide answers.

Salisbury responded with greater urgency and accuracy before the interval. Fullback Henry Toomer made frequent inroads and flanker Will Murley provided a perfect link between forwards and backs. Skipper Bobby Brown scored twice in four minutes. First from a quick penalty which Smith converted and the second when he completed a driving maul. Smith added a penalty on the stroke of half-time to put the home side narrowly ahead at 18 - 17.

After the restart Salisbury showed pace and creativity. Bradley Emanuel provided a further attacking threat throughout and exploited a Salisbury break to extend the lead with a try shortly after the restart. North Dorset hit back quickly, completing another well-executed driving maul from a lineout following a penalty kick to the corner. The conversion restored the visitor’s lead to 24 – 23. Several stoppages for injury seem to check momentum for a while until Salisbury’s greater pace and attacking edge enabled them to cut through. They earned a penalty on 70 minutes and Smith’s conversion restored the host’s lead to 26 – 24.

Theo Andre Browning crossed five minutes from time when Salisbury claimed a loose ball and shipped it for Browning to finish. Smith converted to stretch the lead to 33 – 24. The hosts had the final word in the final minute when they pushed North Dorset off a scrum and punted the ball into the visitor’s 22. Salisbury ran the clearance kick back for Brown to finish with a try to complete his hattrick. Smith converted.

Salisbury will look forward to hosting Swanage and Wareham next Saturday.

See here for an album of photos from the match.

Joe Cooper
Pictures: John Palmer