STRUGGLING Salisbury RFC dropped into the relegation zone in National League 3 South West after a fifth straight defeat at the hands of Bromsgrove.

A much-changed Green and Whites delivered a disappointing performance in Worcestershire as they were beaten 35-15.

Bromsgrove applied the early pressure and scored an unconverted try from a five metre scrum.

Tom Lane then missed a penalty, but after a break from Dave Tonge and Rob Best, Salisbury were awarded a penalty and went for the lineout. And Christian Metson, making his first appearance of the season, scored under the posts. A Lane conversion gave Salisbury a 7-5 lead.

This was soon followed by another Lane penalty, increasing the Salisbury lead to 10-5.

Leading up to half time, the game opened up with new winger Craig Edwards finding some gaps in the home defence, but it was a missed clearance kick and poor defence from Salisbury that allowed the Bromsgrove left wing to run 50 metres and score a converted try. At the break, the home side led 12-10.

The visitors came out strongly in the second half and pressure on the right finally opened up some space for another powerful run by Best, who managed to get the ball to Craig Edwards who was too quick for the defence and scored a try in the corner. Lane missed the difficult conversion.

Despite Salisbury taking the lead, the rest of the game belonged to Bromsgrove. After a series of forward drives, they scored a try in the right hand corner which was converted. They soon added another penalty, giving them a 22-15 lead and then a succession of Salisbury mistakes and offences allowed Bromsgrove to pin Salisbury in their own half and a further penalty stretched the lead to 25-15.

The hosts scored two more unconverted tries to win 35-15.

Neil Loader's men return to Castle Road on Saturday when they host Cleve (2.30pm).

Salisbury United struggled to a 18-15 win over Swanage & Wareham seconds in Dorset and Wilts 1 South.