ONLY the post could deny Salisbury Hockey Club an opening day win after sharing a 2-2 stalemate with Trojans.
The new-look Lower Bemerton outfit, featuring just four starters from the curtain-raiser a year ago, went into the game off the back of a strong pre-season, but the young team had plenty of questions which needed answering.
Throughout the first half they lacked much of the spark they had shown in a post-Christmas run that saw them to a top three finish.
A dogged rearguard performance, coupled with profligate Trojans, meant Salisbury made it to the break without the deadlock being broken.
Immediately after the interval, the Southampton-based team struck but, showing character, the visitors began to produce some of their very best hockey.
A fine run and finish from Dom Welman levelled the score before Tyler Ringwood rounded the keeper to give Salisbury a deserved lead. All the hard work was undone moments later ill-discipline straight after the restart allowed Trojans down the right hand side to equalise once again.
Despite Tom Morton firing over from the edge of the D and Nick Easterbrook hitting the woodwork at the end, Salisbury couldn't quite grab all three points.
Captain Andy Renshaw said: "It was a tough game against a team that were very direct in the first half. But we were the better side in the second and probably should have taken three points from the game."
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