NEWLY promoted Salisbury RFC had envisaged a happy return to South West 1 East, and it was what they got.

Dan Jeffries' charges opened their new campaign following promotion from Southern Counties with a slender 16-15 win over Reading at Castle Road.

Neither side had played competitively in the four-month summer break, which was evident in the early stages.

It took 16 minutes for Green and Whites to find their stride and did so by full back Tom Lane, on his debut, slotting a penalty over the sticks for a three-point lead.

But four minutes later visiting winger Stuart Borthwick broke through the Salisbury defence and ran in an unconverted try to take the score to 5-3.

Reading, in the ascendancy, lost lock Sean Kenneally for obstructing a Salisbury attack

and was sent to the sin bin.

The hosts profited from Reading's numerical disadvantage as captain Liam Gilbert powered over the line to take a 8-5 lead in the 35th minute.

Things went from bad to worse for Reading as this time flanker Jon Cranton impeded a Salisbury attacker and was sin binned for 10 minutes.

Lane stroked a penalty kick through the posts to improve Salisbury's lead to 11-5.

A penalty kick from the Berkshire fly half reduced the arrears to 11-8.

Charlie Jennings gave his side some breathing space with a well-taken try before the visitors hitback once more with a converted try to bring the score to 16-15.

The home crowd were muted and a nervy ending was in the making but Salisbury held on for the win.

They travel to Oxford Harlequins on Saturday.