MARKSMAN Tom Morton inspired Salisbury Hockey Men's firsts to a 6-1 drubbing of Southampton seconds with a superb hat-trick.

The victory moves Salisbury up to second place in Hampshire Area Division 1, two points off leaders Gillingham, who they face in two weeks' time.

Renshaw started the goal-fest at a rainy Lower Bemerton with a well-placed drag flick.

Morton then doubled Salisbury's lead when finding time and space in the D before luring the keeper and striking into the roof of the net.

Salisbury's lead was halved before the interval as Southampton pulled one back.

The hosts started the second half brightly and started to look dangerous with every attack. And the pressure paid off; Morton doubled his tally with a low reverse stick strike from Graham Goodie's set-up before Akram Ghauri finished off after a sharp interchange between Renshaw and Jagjit Marwaha.

Two penalty corners from captain Renshaw and hat-trick hero Morton concluded the rout.

"We were really poor first half but we have quality in the side get goals even when we aren't at our best," Renshaw reflected.

"We upped our game in the second half, and when we play at that level there isn't a team in the league we can't beat."

Salisbury travel to lowly University of Portsmouth on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Salisbury Ladies were involved in a 12-goal thriller at the weekend.

They cruised to an 8-4 victory at Hereford to protect third place in West Club's Women's Hockey Premier Division 2A.

They host top-of-the-table Newent on Saturday.