A FULL-STRENGTH Salisbury RFC took a giant stride towards the play-offs with a solid win over lowly Grove at Castle Road.

The 60-12 bonus point win, coupled with leaders Towcestrians losing to fellow promotion chasers Newbury Blues, closed the gap to five points at the top of South West 1 (East).

They have four matches to go as they cast a serious eye on promotion to National League 3 South West.

A flying start saw Green and Whites go 21-0 up after 20 minutes, thanks to two tries from Liam Gilbert and one from Rob Larcombe, all converted by Tom Lane.

The tempo was set and Lane's penalty conversion made the score 24-5 at the break, the only tinge of concern was a leg injury to captain Gilbert, who consequently came off.

Conditions were ideal for the open running style that the Salisbury team like to play and Rob Best went over early in the second half before Tom Pottage punished Grove for a critical error in their own half, both of which were converted.

A further two tries from Jon Goldsmith and one from Dan Hammond, one converted by Lane, put the hosts into a 55-12 lead.

In the final few minutes Jamie Miller received the ball in his own half and burst into the visitors' half before setting up Richard West to crash over for the final score of the day.