SALISBURY Rugby Club's dreams of pulling off what had once looked a highly unlikely league title victory, took another step to becoming reality on Saturday when they put their old rivals Swanage & Wareham to the sword.

A convincing 37-3 triumph against the Swans, who so often in the past have proved a thorn in the Castle Road outfit's side, extended their unbeaten run in Division Two (East) of the South West League to an impressive 13 games.

Salisbury's early season form - four defeats from their opening six games - certainly didn't suggest they would be title contenders.

However, a 100-per-cent record in the league since - their winning run stretches back to October 27 - has now lifted them to second in the table and just three points behind leaders Chippenham.

Wins in their final trio of games against Marlow, High Wycombe and Henley Wanderers - all sides in the bottom half of the table - would put Salisbury in pole position should the leaders slip up during their run-in, which includes tough games with fellow promotion hopefuls Cheltenham and Swanage & Wareham.

Tries by Christian Metson (2), Nick Taylor, Dave Bell, Phil Chesters and Richard Lang, with Tom Pottage kicking the rest of the points, ensured Salisbury stifled the Swans' own hopes of crashing Chippenham's title party.

Stand-in skipper Bell said: "In hindsight, they weren't the strongest Swanage side we've ever seen.

"We played into a strong headwind in the first half, so at the turnaround, we all felt confident that it was ours to lose. But we performed well as a team and stopped them doing the things they do best, so it was a well-deserved result.

"Winning does get to be a habit and it's one we'd like to continue."

Salisbury now take a two-week break from their league campaign.

This weekend they host Bournemouth in the semi-finals of the Dorset & Wilts Cup, then after the Easter holidays, return with a trip to Marlow.

11:56am Wednesday 12th March 2008

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