INJURY-HIT Salisbury RFC were consigned to a 10th straight defeat in National League 3 South West by Weston Hornets 22-13.

A late reshuffle saw Rob Larcombe switch to centre, Dave Tonge return from injury at scrum half and Tom Bond make his debut on the flank.

Young James Hill, who has impressed head coach Neil Loader in a number of games in the back row, had to step into the engine room of the scrummage alongside Rob Best.

At a wet Castle Road on Saturday, Green and Whites took an early lead when Jon Goldsmith crossed after good work, Tom Lane added the conversion.

Weston gradually dragged themselves back into the game despite some ferocious defence. Lane added two more penalties but the Somerset side, using their powerful pack as a springboard, crept into a 13-15 lead as the game remained finely poised in the last five minutes.

Finally the Hornets broke away and scored, which they converted, leaving Salisbury to lick their wounds once again and pick up a losing bonus point at the halfway stage in their lacklustre campaign.

They remain second from bottom and are back at home on Saturday with the visit of high-flying Ivybridge (2.15pm).

Elsewhere, third-placed Salisbury United suffered a narrow defeat at home to Dorset and Wilts 1 South leaders Yeovil 29-38.

A hat-trick of tries by Ed Crossley plus additional scores for Peter Francis and Jake McConnell and two Richard Knight conversions kept Salisbury in the hunt, but missed tackles ultimately hurt the home side.