Saltash President Bill Ryan was quoted as saying “I have never seen a performance of this standard from Ashes, and I have seen many as you know. Slough didn't know what hit them.”

Saltash were on the board inside the first 10 minutes, with a well taken try from full-back Ryan Cruikshanks, picking up a loose ball from a Slough attack, to splice the defence and run in from the half way for fly half Kieran Down to convert.

The visitors responded with a penalty goal from fly half Rob King on 17 minutes, to be countered almost immediately with a try for Saltash through flanker Lewis Wells, with Down converting for 14-3. The home side hit a purple patch as they scored further second half tries through number 8 Steve Hillman, and Cruikshank with Down adding another conversion to extend the lead to 26-3.

Slough did not stop playing and remained positive, with tries from scrum half Thomas Young and hooker James Flisher coupled to a King conversion to go in at the break 26-15 down with plenty to play for.

Whatever the Saltash coaches said at half time needs to be bottled, as the home-side were on fire at the turnaround, playing into a stiff breeze, scored firstly almost from the kick off, with right wing Will Morton given a narrow space to operate in, and away he went to score a try for 31-15. Cruikshanks added the next for his hat-trick and further tries came from centre Todd Crofts, hooker Ryan Rayner, with replacement props Simon Nance and Chris Carpenter getting in on the act with well taken tries before centre Jason Carroll rounded off the scoring. Down added a further conversion before replacement fly half Harrison Reburn slotted a further 3 tries, with Slough’s solitary second half score coming from prop Colby Short with Kink Converting.
Saltash are now in the National Semi-final on Easter Saturday at home to Old Cranleighans.

Saltash – A.Coutts, .Rayner, T.Olds, J.Ronayne, K.Felton, L.Wells, P.Eatwell, S.Hillman, O.Mulberry, K.Down, J.Moriarty, J.Carroll, T.Crofts, W.Morton, R.Cruikshanks Subs – S.Nance, C.Carpenter, A.Merritt, G.Eatwell, S.Snell, N.Blake, H.Reburn.

SALTASH RFC

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