IN-FORM Salisbury RFC have shuffled into third in Southern Counties South after letting loose with another points spree at Dorchester.

The Castle Road outfit recorded back-to-back wins in the league following a 67-10 demolition in Dorset.

In the low winter sun, a kick through from David Tonge forced the home side into conceding a penalty.

Reliable Tom Pottage saw his kick hit the post but was not to be denied for long, after a perfectly timed interception saw him gallop unopposed from 55 metres to score and then add the conversion points. Dom Porter drove the ball hard left soon after for Liam Gilbert to finish another move by forcing his way over the line.

Tom Ranaboldo showed some nimble footwork to step over for the next score, Pottage again converting, before Ranaboldo crossed again, relying on weight and momentum on this occasion.

The rout was increased to 29 points at the break after two debutants – Theo Daniel and James Miller – combined to set up Dan Hammond for another try. Lead coach Dan Jeffries was determined not to let his boys rest on their laurels and stern words during the interval inspired Pottage to grab another while the crowd were still drifting back from the clubhouse.

But some good work from the home pack saw them pull a score back from close range.

Gordon Grant, returning from a two-year sabbatical and putting in a fine performance, powered over for a try before Paddy Dickson also crossed the line.

A stray pass from skipper Gilbert was intercepted and Dorchester scored again before Hammond bagged his second.

Daniel was rewarded with two late tries to cap a fine showing, Pottage was successful with four second half conversions, and Salisbury were home and dry, buoyed by the news that rivals Sherborne had lost at Frome.

Salisbury have their last pre-Christmas outing when they take on Midsomer Norton on Saturday at Castle Road, in which they anticipate a bumper crowd.

Competition for places is hotting up as Josh Green, Jon Goldsmith, Andy Herriott, Iain Miller, James Kaminski and James Starkey look set to return from the sidelines in the course of the new year.

  • Salisbury United also beat Dorchester, registering a 57-0 victory.