A PLUCKY Salisbury RFC made it a hat-trick of wins after defeating Brixham 16-13 in their quest to retain their National League 3 South West status.

Saturday's away triumph takes third-from-bottom Salisbury up to 27 points, reducing the gap to two points behind Lydney who have games in hand.

Roared on by a boisterous away following in Devon who made the arduous 240-mile round trip, Green and Whites made a solid start through the front five of Aiden Gill, Gareth Blackborrow, Gary Williamson, Tom Ranaboldo and Liam Gilbert.

The loose forwards tackled like demons, led by Johnny Kay and skipper Josh Green.

And it was from a scrummage close to the home line that Green touched down for a pushover score, with Tom Lane kicking the conversion points.

Kicking machine Lane then added two more penalties before Ben Lovell responded with a kick of his own as the first half finished 13-3.

The Fishermen pushed forward in the second half but the defensive wall that was Rob Larcombe, who had left his sick bed to take part, and Gerrard Narrahn, making his debut, was not to be breached.

And it wasn't long before Lane added a fourth penalty to give the visitors some breathing space at 16-3.

Salisbury then lost Gilbert and then Bennett to the bin for 10 minutes apiece.

And with the clock ticking down, Brixham scored through Tom Goodman but a missed conversion left them too much to do and an Ed Barne’s try in the last minute was not enough.

Green and Whites look to maintain their 100 per cent winning record in 2017 when they welcome high-flying Camborne to Castle Road on Saturday (2.15pm).