A TELLING display by Salisbury RFC culminated in a fitting end to their home campaign.

A highly-disciplined Green and Whites thrashed Dorchester 78-5 to secure a home draw in their push for promotion from Southern Counties South this month.

Salisbury started with a bang. Richard West fielding the kick off and carrying hard into the onrushing Dorchester pack before going to ground. James Miller carried the ball strongly before finding Dave Tonge in support and drawing the defence before setting Tom Pottage on his way to the line and the first try in 26 seconds. Pottage duly added the conversion points. The rout expected by the large and vociferous crowd did not ensue as Dorchester pulled back a score.

It was halfway through the first period when Salisbury scored again as Gareth Blackborrow drove over.With the minutes ticking away, stand-in captain Josh Green broke the defensive line with a scintillating turn of pace and, as the defence closed in, applied a deft boot to the ball and Tonge won the sprint for the line and touched down. Salisbury were eager for more and the half finished with a second try for Tonge and a conversion from Pottage.

The hosts started the second half in the same way as the first, with James Miller breaking clear down the right to score.

Pottage streaked across the pitch from his own half and rounded the last defender to touch down for his second of the day, before Tonge secured his second hat trick in as many games and Green smashed over for a score.

Further tries from Howie Stewart, Jake McConnell and Rob Larcombe, with the metronomic boot of Pottage converting seven of eight conversions to complete a 78-5 conclusion.

Salisbury look set to play Aylesbury in the play-off clash on April 25.

lSalisbury United clinched promotion with a fine 14-31 win over Dorchester 2nds, while Salisbury A XV demolished their Swanage and Wareham counterparts 34-5, in what waqs a very good Saturday fore the Salisbury club.