A REVITALISED Salisbury secured their first league success of the season with an emphatic win over Stow-on-the-Wold, writes Stuart McArdell.

All the tries came from the backs who were uncompromising in defence and inventive in attack. But the glory belonged to the forwards.

The return of Richard West to loose head did much to give the scrum stability and aggression and the whole of the front five played with pace and power that has been missing this season.

The back row trio of Triniman, Perry and Mussell proved an all action partnership that never gave Stow's backs a moment's respite all afternoon.

Salisbury looked in confident mood from the start with full back Dave Barlow, visibly growing in stature with every game, twice mounting attacks from his own 22.

The home side's first try came from a line out inside Stow's half. West surged through the back of the line out and the ball recycled to John Penry. The stand off coolly sidestepped through Stow's defence and raced for the line, off loading in the tackle to give Nick Stallard the try. Dave Bell converted and Salisbury were seven points up.

This was new territory for the home side and the heady experience gave them the confidence to mount a series of running attacks resulting in another ruck on Stow's 22.

Winger Pete Upton saw an opening infield and came off his wing to make a strong cross field run before linking with Dave Bell.

Salisbury's captain broke the gain line before sending his other winger, Tom Pottage, on a charge and was on hand to take his inside pass to touch down and convert his own try.

Under severe pressure in their 22, Stow's clearance kick was run back by Upton who ran into a high tackle and Bell gratefully took the three points to take his side into half time 17-0 ahead.

Salisbury started the second half with a strong attack again forcing Stow into a panicky clearance kick.

Bell collected in midfield and ran back strongly to set up a ruck midfield on Stow's 22. The ball recycled left and Penry looped the defence to score by the corner flag.

Increasing the tempo, Salis-bury proceeded to push Stow off their own scrum only to be penalised by the referee. Stow took instant advantage of the home side's disbelief and raced up the touchline to score.

Encouraged, Stow mounted wave after wave of attack, but Salisbury's midfield defence was awesome with Stallard providing a human battering ram that Stow's backs simply couldn't pass.

Facing an unexpected defeat, Stow threw everything into the fray.

Both sides lost players to the sin bin and for a while it looked as if Salisbury's fragile confidence would crack under the pressure.

Then, from a line out on Stow's 22, Salisbury's pack drove for the line before switching the point of attack to the backs.

Penry dummied before feeding Stallard on the crash ball and the burly centre sped through for the final, converted, try of the game.

This will be a tremendous boost for Salisbury's confidence ahead of Saturday's trip to Brixham for their Powergen Cup third round tie. But if the same squad can be fielded again, they will have nothing to fear from the Devonians.