STURDY Salisbury RFC proved leaders and champions-elect Swanage and Wareham are not indestructible as they shocked them with a gritty win to rip up their unbeaten record which tailed back to September - the start of the season.

The tenacious hosts illustrated their desire to get promotion from Southern Counties South by seeing-off Swanage, for the second time this season, in an eagerlyanticipated top-of-the-table clash.

The 25-18 victory illustrated what a terrific campaign Salisbury are having and coincided with shaving four points off the gap as they trail Swans by 14 points.

A big crowd gathered at Castle Road for an encounter involving two sides that play expansive rugby, and the game didn’t disappoint.

Salisbury, notorious slowstarters, conceded a try after just one minute had been played.

But their resolve showed again and, from the restart, they received possession and a cracking kick over the top by Dave Tonge allowed Tom Scott to use his pace to score close to the post, with Tom Pottage adding the extras.

After 10 minutes, Salisbury led 7-5.

The game settled into periods where each sides’ forwards had chances but neither were able to capitalise until 15 minutes from half time when Swans went under the posts for a try and added the extras.

Salisbury were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half time to enter the interval 10- 12 behind.

Swanage then took the initiative to extend their lead with two penalties and Salisbury got one and were left chasing a five-point deficit.

Something special was needed to turn the game on its head, and it came in the form of a fantastic passage of play. Liam Gilbert offloaded to Josh Green who continued to surge forward before passing to Tonge who scored the crucial try to level the scores and Pottage poked their noses in front with the conversion.

With five minutes remaining, in typical Pottage fashion, he flew the Swans’ defence to score the try that marked a new milestone in the club’s history.

That’s now 11 wins on the trot for Matt Pallas’ men as they go to Walcot on Saturday beaming with confidence.

Matt Pallas, Salisbury RFC manager, said: “We knew that Swans would travel to Castle Road full of confidence and with eagerness to try and turn us over, especially after what we did to them in the Dorset & Wilts Cup!”

“All week we reminded ourselves that it’s more about what we do on the pitch and it’s how we perform that will dictate what Swans can do. It was clear from the moment the Swanage team arrived that they thought they could sweep us aside with how they strutted around the pitch during the warm up, this only served to focus the Green and Whites and make them even more determined.

“The squad and management are really satisfied with the run of victories we’ve had, we’re playing an exciting brand of rugby which is easy on the eye. Our form of late has really started to attract the supporters.”