SALISBURY RFC bounced back from last week’s crucial defeat against fellow title hopefuls Sherborne with an emphatic 79-19 victory against Corsham, with a side reshuffled due to injury and unavailability.

Josh Green scampered over for the first score before Leon Taylor benefitted from some fast hands to cross in the corner, Charlie Jennings converting.

The home crowd were treated to the unusual sight of Gareth Blackborrow trotting over for a score before Rupert Coley also burrowed over.

Aiden Gill, propping on the other side of the scrummage, broke into a fast canter to leave the defence trailing as he got on the score sheet before a flamboyant dummy from Liam Gilbert opened a large gap for another try. To finish the half, Blackborrow was driven over and Jennings kicked his 4th conversion to make the score 43- 7.

Salisbury were in no mood to take their foot off of the gas and Gill was the beneficiary of some good forward play to nab his second score and keep the front row rivalry going.

Patrick Cartwright was rewarded for some strong running with a try before Gilbert danced down the right wing and in for his second of the afternoon.

From an attacking scrimmage, Roland Barter found his service blocked but Green was able to pick up the move and bag his brace.

The hefty figure of Tom Ranoboldo had been used to good effect all afternoon making the hard yards and he was next to score, nimbly stepping through the visitors’ defensive line to touch down before Johnny Kay, enjoying his return to 1st XV action, was rewarded for a hard shift with the final score of the day.

Corsham enjoyed a brief flourish and scored twice but Salisbury were not to be denied and three more conversions from Jennings, who distributed excellently all afternoon, made sure the gap stayed too wide to breach.

Salisbury visit local rivals Swanage and Wareham next week who currently top the table and are unbeaten. Dan Jeffries’ team will be working hard in training hoping to spoil that record and throw the promotion race wide open.

n Salisbury Utd went down 38-0 to Swanage 2nd XV while the “A” XV recorded an excellent win over neighbours Fordingbridge 2nds, with a scoreline of 17-14.