Salisbury 1st XV 31 points v's Swanage and Wareham 1stXV 3 points. 25th September 2021

Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club had to travel to Salisbury for their first league game of the new season, and it turned out to be not a pleasant trip.

A mistake by Swans defence had a Salisbury winger hacking the ball on and diving in the corner after the first minute of the game. Swans tried to reply but a knock on enabled the hosts to clear. The game was even for the next fifteen minutes, but a move by Salisbury’s backs after 18 minutes led to another score in the corner.(10pts – nil).After 27 minutes a break away from a Salisbury centre, split Swans defence and he went in under the posts(17pts – nil).Straight from the restart Swans received a penalty and Swans’ fly half Matt Spencer put the ball through the posts.

(17pts – 3pts) at half time.

Swans were much better in the first part of the second half and should have reduced the arrears, but once again mistakes prevented them scoring. On 57 minutes a clever cip and chase by Salisbury’s scrum half had him scoring under the posts for a converted try(24pts -3pts). Swans had a few injuries, but still could not penetrate the Salisbury defence, and with ten minutes to go Salisbury managed another try close to the posts which was converted making the final score Salisbury 31pts Swanage & Wareham 3pts

Swans team:-,O.Dillon,T.Holland,H.Colton,L.Hardy,M.Spencer,C.Tomes,Z.wyburgh,C.Foskett,N.Audley,C.Joynt,L.Smith,J.Ginders,M.Robert,,M.Seaton,S.Waterman,J.Cockwell,W.Veremu

In contrast Swanage & Wareham seconds took on Salisbury seconds, and in an entertaining game Swans 2nds managed to score five tries without conceding to come out winners at 29pts to nil

RON BUTLER(Publicity Secretary)