Salisbury RFC travelled to Sherborne on Saturday in Counties 1 Tribute Southern South. Sherborne, determined to avenge their 21-0 defeat to Salisbury earlier in the season, delivered a significantly stronger performance to win 24-10, bringing an end to Salisbury's impressive seven-match unbeaten run.

Sherborne started the game with confidence, displaying organisation and commitment during the early exchanges. Salisbury's response was calm. Assisted by early dominance in the scrum, they absorbed pressure and worked their way into the contest. This included having to reorganise following an injury and early departure for flyhalf James Kelway-Cocks on five minutes. Salisbury pressed their hosts on 15 minutes eventually earning a penalty for Ollie Bate to convert and take a 0 – 3 lead.

Sherborne responded resolutely 10 minutes later having already missed a penalty attempt. They gathered a Salisbury clearance and kicked long for the corner. The visitors opted for a quick lineout but a misunderstanding between defenders gifted the hosts and easy converted score and 7 – 3 lead. Salisbury regrouped after the restart. Forwards Bobby Brown and Rob Becher frequently made inroads but Salisbury failed to convert two clear try-scoring opportunities and momentum swung back toward Sherborne. After both sides exchanged kicks towards the end of the half, Sherborne managed to sustain some pressure. Their cause was helped when Salisbury received a yellow card on 38 minutes and were reduced to 14 men. The hosts drove the lineout that followed, spun the ball wide and found space to score their second converted try to end the half 14 – 3 leaders.

Early in the second half matters worsened for the visitors when they were dispossessed in midfield. Sherborne swiftly countered moving the ball wide, they exploited numerical superiority and found space for an unconverted try to extend their lead to 19 – 3. Salisbury responded aggressively. Centre pairing Joe Paden and Harvey Boardman stretched the hosts midfield defence and there was a greater sense of urgency throughout. Salisbury were rewarded when their scrum pushed Sherborne off their own ball. They quickly shifted it wide for wing Eremasi Ranatora to charge down the left wing, bounce numerous tackles and offload to Boardman for an easy run in under the posts. Bate added the extras reducing the deficit to 19 – 10 on 60 minutes.

Both sides got stuck into a tight and physical contest in the final quarter, with Salisbury pushing hard to close the gap. They were chasing the game and a corresponding lack of fluency meant that they were unable to break through Sherborne’s sturdy defence. In the final minutes, Salisbury’s defensive lineout went awry. Sherborne gathered a loose ball at the back for an easy unconverted try.

Salisbury will have to quickly set aside the disappointing 24 – 10 loss and regroup before a testing away fixture at Walcot in Bath next Saturday. Salisbury remain fourth in Counties 1 Tribute Southern South and Walcot sit in fifth but have matches in hand.

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Joe Cooper
Pictures: John Palmer