DESPITE some promising signs from Salisbury, they were left short-changed at Witney after falling to their sixth straight defeat.

Witney, who are a large and solid side, displayed crisp passing and direct running in the early exchanges as well as needing to defend resolutely.

Salisbury welcomed Rob Larcombe back to the side and he provided some stiff resistance in the middle of the park.

Phill Carr was restored to the wing, Ritchie Roe came in at full back and Dan Wills made his debut in the engine room of the scrummage.

Good discipline had the sides level until Witney chugged over from a line out using their big forwards well.

Salisbury looked to take the game to the hosts but, from a half break, their speedy right winger found space kicked ahead and, in the chase for the touchdown, Andy Herriott was adjudged to have pulled him back.

Herriot saw yellow, and Witney red, as they bullied their way forward and used their numerical superiority to cross and extend their lead.

Another drive down the right drew in the defence and the ball moved swiftly left, which saw Witney crash over for their third score.

Sharp words from Mark Bugden at half time saw Salisbury in the ascendancy and Carr broke again but only a huge defensive tackle stopped him yards short, this time without support, and the home side were rocking on their heels.

Witney sensed that Salisbury were slowing and threw everything forward, coming out 32-10 victors when the fulltime whistle was blown.

  • Salisbury under 13s blasted to a 62-0 victory in their first league fixture as juniors over Minety at Castle Road.

WHEATSHEAF REMAIN IMPROVING

THE Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew continued to improve on their good early start to the season with a home walkover win against Swanage and Wareham in Dorset & Wilts 3 South.

The away team were unable to raise a full team so after loaning a handful of Wheats’ players, the fixture went ahead.

The Wheats repeatedly got results by shipping good ball to the backs and using fly-half Scott Neary to unleash Josh Baldwin and Jake Myers down the centre.

With a great platform set by the Wheats pack, the backs were able to implement a free-flowing game.

The second half continued in the same vein with the try of the match coming from a quick ball by Mike Bryan, releasing Myers and Baldwin down the left wing, with some great offloading play allowing Josh Baldwin to cross the corner flag.

A final friendly score of 58-0 saw ten tries and a young backline looking strong for a long season.

The Wheats now have a week off before visiting Verwood for what is expected to be a tough fixture.