RELEGATION-THREATENED Salisbury RFC dropped into the bottom two in National League 3 South West after a 47-15 defeat at Cleve.

Green and Whites put in a battling performance in treacherous conditions but were unable to pick up any points, subsequently falling into 13th place, but just four points from safety.

They went behind early on following a well-taken try.

Tom Lane then got Salisbury on the board with a penalty kick.

Salisbury kept up the pressure, which led to an unconverted try by Matty Loader. Cleeve responded with a penalty kick soon after, to move the score to 13-8.

The hosts then extended their lead when a charged down clearance resulted in a converted try to lead 20-8 at the break.

And any hopes of a comeback were scuppered after the restart as the hosts scored three tries in a deadly 17-minute spell.

They then added a further two to move the score to 47-18.

The visitors kept on going and were rewarded when Tom Ranaboldo crashed over, with the conversion taken by Loader.

Salisbury host Newton Abbot on Saturday (3pm) in their penultimate home fixture of the season.

Elsewhere, the seconds romped to a 46-14 win over North Dorset seconds in Dorset and Wilts 1 South.

A hat-trick of tries from Mike Dauwalder, Matt Battenbough’s brace and one apiece from Jack Tibbitts, Chris Miller and Richard Knight, who also added three conversions, completed the win.

Salisbury thirds edged out Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew 27-24.