SALISBURY RFC ended a rotten run of 11 consecutive defeats with a richly-deserved 27-19 victory at Bracknell in National League 3 South West.

It's their first win since mid-September and one that lifts them up one place to 12th.

However, they are still 10 points from safety.

The visitors lit up a gloomy Lily Hill Park early on when Ollie Bowden gathered a long clearance and made a fine break, forcing the home side to bundle the ball into touch. The forwards gathered the line out and rumbled forward before Matt Dawson touched down, Tom Lane adding the conversion. Matt Loader was next to break away and, when Bracknell infringed, Lane added a penalty.

The irrepressible Bowden made another superb catch and break, following up his kick ahead to make the tackle, and the home side were penalised for holding on to the ball.

Lane kicked for touch, and the forwards repeated their control as the line out with Dawson again the beneficiary; Lane added the extras.

Salisbury were enjoying themselves and when the forwards again drove forward the home side were forced to concede another penalty which drifted agonisingly wide.

Salisbury shrugged this off, and good work by Christian Metson, Craig Edwards and Rob Best piled on the pressure resulting in another penalty, Lane making no mistake.

Bracknell rallied and, despite heroic defence, their forwards rumbled ahead and were awarded a penalty try, duly converted by Chris Laidler to reduce the half time deficit to 7-20.

The hosts were much-improved in the second half and took the game to Salisbury.

The balance of power looked to be changing when a speculative kick from defence by Bracknell was not dealt with by a trio of players and Ben Yates was able to go over for a converted score. Salisbury responded with more pressure and Dawson completed his hat-trick from the back of a maul, Lane converting.

Bracknell scored another try with a break down the left wing but were unable to penetrate again.

Head coach Neil Loader said: “It was a gutsy performance, we carried on from the Ivybridge game, we showed good intensity and Bracknell got a shock but went up a gear at half time."