SALISBURY’S game against Banbury will go down as one of the finest comebacks, if not the finest, as they reversed a seventeen point half time deficit to emerge victorious 35-28 winners away from home.

The visitors posted their intent early when a superb shimmy and break from Ollie Bowden pushed Banbury back, but they retorted when Freddie Cracknell ran a clearance back without a Salisbury tackler laying a hand on him to score.

A slick move from Dave Tonge and Jack Sheldrake, along with fellow centre Christian Metson, again threatened but foundered, and quick hands saw Cracknell in again. Matt Loader pulled back three points with a penalty before Juan Van Der Merwe broke and found Sheldrake in support who put Tonge away for a score.

Cracknell completed his hattrick with another strong run before the home forwards rumbled over for a touch down against the posts, and Loader scored two penalties.

Salisbury started the second half brightly and a quickly taken tap penalty as Callum MacTaggart went over to score and the score converted by Loader who then added a penalty.

Salisbury were now visibly the fitter side with Bobby Saunders and James Hill appearing all over the pitch, Dom Porter was driving destructively, and the lock pairing of Richard Goffin and Chris Beaumont were claiming the hard yards.

Good work by Sheldrake and Metson sent Bowden streaking under the posts and the sides were level as Loader converted.

As the clock ticked down, a fine move started and finished by Metson, with good support from Van Der Merwe and Beaumont, and a final Loader conversion saw them clinch the win.