SALISBURY Rugby Club will go into this weekend's top-of-the-table clash with Chippenham with confidence sky-high, after they demolished league strugglers Amersham and Chiltern 51-3 at home, writes Sarah McQuillen.

Delighted captain Dave Bell hailed his team's performance as 'total rugby', and a welcome boost ahead of what he expects to be one of their toughest fixtures of the season.

In a sparkling display at their Castle Road home last Saturday, Salisbury effectively deprived Amersham and Chiltern of counter-attacking options, stifling them with a ruthlessness that has been absent in recent times.

Heaping praise on the side's newfound blend of commitment and swagger, Bell added: "It is the first time for a long while that we have won by that kind of margin - almost 50 points.

"It is obviously a game we would have hoped to win, but, for once, we really finished a team off."

Leading by example, the captain was at the heart of the free-scoring performance, notching up a hat-trick of tries to add to Danny Pokai's brace.

There was also a try apiece for Tom Pottage, Phil Carr, Tim Shipsey and Liam Gilbert.

Amersham and Chiltern had no answer for their hosts' pace and sharp handling and were further undermined when two of their key players suffered injuries, which required hospitalisation.

Bell believes there is still more to come from Salisbury.

He said: "We did well, but even then I could see that there were times when we sat back a bit too much.

"Without taking anything away from the other team, we could have put even more past them.

"But it was a tactically sound game.

"We were much improved on our performance against Swanage & Wareham the week before. That was a game full of grit, rather than flair."

On Saturday, Chippenham will be looking to maintain their impressive early season form, which has so far produced three victories from as many starts.

The Salisbury skipper expects to face a strong team but believes he has has a good idea what to expect from his fellow Wiltshire-men.

He said: "Like us, they have already beaten Swanage & Wareham.

"As a team, they are primarily oriented towards their backs and our defence will really have to stand up to give us a chance against them."

Salisbury will be at full strength for the watershed encounter. Kick off is at 3pm.