Salisbury continued their impressive form with a comfortable 37-6 home win over Chippenham's 2nd XV at Castle Road on Saturday, January 4.

They extended their unbeaten run to seven league matches. This underlines their suitability for their recent selection for Dorset & Wiltshire’s Tribute Team of the Month in December.

Salisbury's pack asserted dominance early and had a much stronger scrummage. Just three minutes in the hosts kicked ahead and had Chippenham under extreme pressure at a ruck. They earned a penalty and opted for a scrummage.

Salisbury’s pack powered their way over the line for No. 8, Jake McConnell to score the pushover try. This set the tone for the game. The visitors were, however, youthful and were clearly willing to run at Salisbury. They responded with a penalty on the host's 22-metre line on seven minutes narrowing the score to 5-3.

Salisbury’s more experienced pack enabled them to maintain momentum. In the 11th minute, the hosts chased an attacking kick.

With the visitors under intense pressure, scrum-half Jacques Kinnison capitalized on a charged-down clearance to score Salisbury's second try. Chippenham were determined to remain in touch and added their second penalty in the 24th minute after a dangerous break and kick ahead through Salisbury’s midfield.

The hosts responded on 31 minutes when they kicked a penalty to touch a few metres outside Chippenham’s 22-metre line. They formed a very tidy driving maul and were not stopped until they were five metres off the host's goal line.

Fullback Dan Hammond gathered Flyhalf Ollie Bate’s impressive cross-field for Salisbury’s third unconverted try and a 15 – 6 halftime lead.

Neither side had control during the early exchanges of the second half. Salisbury’s momentum was often checked by poorly executed lineouts but their dominant scrummage prevented Chippenham from securing a foothold despite their eagerness to attack.

The host's fourth try came in the 52nd minute when winger Rob Crossley chased another Bate cross-field kick to score out wide. This was extended six minutes later when Salisbury kicked a penalty to the corner. Bobby Brown broke from the subsequent maul to barge his way over for the host's fifth try and a 25 – 6 lead.

Salisbury were dominant entering the final quarter. After a loose period of play, Salisbury broke and winger Eremasi Ranatora bounced a tackle to create space for a sprint to the line on 68 minutes. Bate added the extras for a commanding 32 – 6 lead.

The hosts concluded the afternoon with a final attacking lineout following a penalty. Replacement flanker Tristan Jones muscled his way over for a 37 – 6 bonus point win.

This was Salisbury’s most complete performance of the season. Destructive tackling from Rob Beecher and numerous midfield carries from fellow forwards Mike Adams, Dom Porter and Bobby Brown helped generate momentum against a less physical opposition.

More of the same will be needed away against challenging opponents Walcot, Royal Wotton Basset and Combe Down during the latter stages of the season.

They remain fourth in Counties 1 Tribute Southern South and will travel to third-place Sherborne on Saturday, January 11.