HAPLESS Salisbury RFC slipped further down the National League 3 South West table after being consigned to a 38-13 home defeat to promotion-chasers Dings Crusaders.

Green and Whites, defeated in their last eight games, fell behind when the visitors' hooker and skipper, Paul Fincken, crashed over for a score.

Salisbury stuck to their gameplan and enjoyed a period of pressure which ended with a Matt Loader penalty.

Great defensive work kept the Bristol side at bay until possession was coughed up just before the break and Dings went into half time 12-3 up.

And the visitors showed why they are so highly placed with their neat passing and were rewarded with two tries.

Hopes at Castle Road were raised when skipper Josh Green, leading from the front, was rewarded for some hard running with a score but the visitors were not to be denied. This was despite Dan Hammond crossing after a great break following an unselfish pass from Loader.

Two more tries from the visitors saw them leave with a big victory.

Salisbury, now second from bottom but six points clear of basement side Bromsgrove, travel to second-placed Old Redcliffians on Saturday in much need of a change in fortunes.

Elsewhere, Salisbury United leaped into second in Dorset and Wilts 1 South after a 29-12 victory at Oakmedians.

Tries by Skipper Richard Roe, Felix Martin and Josh Stace were just reward for some good interplay.

But the second half disintegrated into a wrestle, with mistakes creeping into Salisbury’s game before two Epi Bainimoli tries made it safe, both converted by Callum Wright.

Salisbury A made light work of hammering Oakmedians' seconds 58-19 and Salisbury Stones also got in on the winning theme, beating the thirds 25-15.