THE tactical nous of fly-half Russell Barstow helped Wootton Bassett Under 15s to an excellent 26-0 Wiltshire Cup win against a Salisbury side with six county players.
Bassett played against the strong wind in the first half and pressurised Salisbury from the kick-off.
It paid off when, following a 10 metre driving maul, prop Stefan Wadsworth scored a try.
Salisbury came back strongly, but they were repulsed by strong tackling.
Salisbury then changed tactics and kicked downfield but full-back Paul Yeoman was a rock in defence.
Barstow came into his own after the break as his excellent tactical game with the boot put the ball into space which allowed the backs to create chances.
From a deep kick, second row Rob Brown ripped the ball from a maul and his speed enabled him to beat the cover defence to score under the posts, a try which Barstow converted.
The next try followed the same pattern.
Bassett won a maul five metres out and the ball was popped out to wing forward Chris Moakes who broke through the defence to score under the posts, Barstow again converting.
Salisbury continued to try and break Bassett's line, but Barstow chased his own kick and skillfully dribbled it past the Salisbury full-back to touch down under the posts, and his conversion rounded off a fine effort.
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