National Three SW
Dings Crusaders RFC
Saturday 25th March 2017
Dings 54 Salisbury 21

After a competitive first half Salisbury ran out of steam and Dings cut loose in the second half to win eight tries to three and complete the double over their lowly placed visitors. The win keeps Dings in second place and pole position for a promotion play off but it is still very close and almost certainly will not be resolved until the final game of the season.

Dings first try came just five minutes into the match with the first of a brace for impressive veteran centre Sylvan Edwards. Salisbury hit back five minutes later with a try and conversion for full back Ollie Bowden to take the lead 7-5 but two penalties from scrum half Steve Plummer restored Dings lead by the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was well contested with both sides going close before an exchange of converted tries in the dying minutes of the half. Hooker Paul Fincken crashed over from close range for Dings and Salisbury replied with a try from centre Rob Larcombe with the last play of the half for 18-14 to Dings at halftime.

Dings took control early in the second half extending their lead after just two minutes with a solo try from Edwards weaving through the visitors defence from forty metres out. This was closely followed by a try for No8 Tom Knight touching down from a five metre scrum with the conversion from Plummer extending Dings lead to 30-14.

Dings now well on top ran in four more tries in the final quarter from wing Chris Wright-Hider, lock Ed Hack, full back Harry Tovey and centre Matt Smith with Plummer adding three conversions to complete the scoring.

Scorers
Dings
Tries- Fincken, Edwards 2, Knight, Wright-Hider, Tovey, Hack, Smith
Cons- Plummer 4
Pens- Plummer 2

Salisbury
Tries- Bowden. Larcombe, Best.
Con- Bowden 3
Pens

Written by Richard Grant