CELEBRATIONS were carried into Saturday night after Salisbury RFC turned in their season's best performance with a fine 31-10 win at Grove to snap up top spot in South West 1 (East).

Green and Whites overtook former table-toppers Towcestrians, who were defeated by Newbury Blues 13-5, to open up a two-point gap at the top.

It's the first time all campaign Salisbury have been staring down at 13 other teams after winning seven of their last eight matches.

Grove presented a strong and organised challenge but within two minutes a driving maul from fully 30 yards out saw Tom Ranaboldo flopping over for the opening score. Tom Lane notched up the conversion with aplomb in difficult conditions.

The visitors extended their lead when Liam Gilbert picked up from the base of a scrum and fed Dave Tonge, who made ground before sending Tom Pottage flying for the line; Lane again kicked the extras.

The Castle Road outfit added a third try before the break when quick hands from Charlie Jennings, Rob Larcombe, and Lane saw the ball move left and Dan Hammond was in for the converted score.

Salisbury were performing strongly across the pitch and, playing into a second half gale, stuck to their game plan.

The visitors dominated the set piece and were a constant threat with ball in hand.

A soaring break from Esnouf found Pottage in support and a clever inside pass from the veteran winger saw skipper Gilbert dive over for the bonus point try. Salisbury were not finished and good work by Ritchie Roe and a clever chip saw Christian Metson, who had plenty of work still to do, shrug off the tacklers and cross for a 31 point lead.

Grove pulled two tries back at the death but it was too little, too late.

Skipper Gilbert hailed the victory as the "best performance of the season".

Salisbury now face a tough run into Christmas with both Windsor and Leighton Buzzard coming to Castle Road and a trip to Witney before 2016 kicks off with Oxford Harlequins at home.