Wallingford 15, Salisbury 12

Sheer persistence won the day as Wallingford reached the second round of the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup.

It took the hosts 76 minutes to finally grind down a determined Salisbury side, who deservedly led 12-3 at the break.

But if Wallingford never produced the flowing rugby they aspire to, such spirit and work rate showed they are already a force to be reckoned with at this level.

Typified by the industry of centre Pete Holton, this was a result to be really proud of, not least because it preserved their three-year unbeaten home run.

Wallingford struck the first blow through the boot of highly promising young wing Jackson Sayce, whose fifth-minute penalty sailed over.

Their defence was not as solid, however, as Salisbury lock Liam Gilbert showed by collecting a bouncing ball and breaking through to score two minutes later.

Gilbert converted himself and looked a real handful in the first half.

Wallingford struggled to gain a foothold in Salisbury's half and were again at fault for the visitors' second try.

A simple pass from scrum half Robert Larcome put wing Jonathan Campbell-Jones in space to sprint over after 21 minutes.

Wallingford fly half Henry Pooler was pulled back for a forward pass as he looked to go clear, while only a knock-on denied visiting lock David Thorpe a try.

A decent counter-attack from home full back Henry Venners showed promise, but there was little for home fans to cheer.

It could have been worse with skipper Kris Blaszko's clearance being charged down in the in-goal area, but Wallingford escaped with a five-metre scrum.

Sayce was well short with a long-range penalty just before the break, but his absence through injury was nearly crucial in the second half.

Wallingford clearly raised their intensity, but struggled to make inroads aside from one Mike Turner drive.

A deliberate knock-on by full back Philip Carr gave the hosts the simplest of penalties on 54 minutes, but Venners's woeful effort was more suited to Wembley than Twickenham.

Wallingford's pressure did pay off three minutes later when great work from prop Blaszko gave replacement wing Nick Risk space on the left and he finished in style.

The final quarter was all Wallingford, yet there was no great finesse.

Mike Turner and No 8 Pete Thorns were launched off the back of rucks and mauls, but Salisbury held firm.

Venners's penalty miss and Blaszko's off-target conversion looked really crucial now.

Risk lacked support after a superb burst out of defence, but fortunately the giant presence of Mike Turner proved Wallingford's trump card with most of the pack driving him over.

Blaszko made no mistake with the conversion, and Salisbury's final hope was foiled when wing Oliver Elford fumbled a pass.

Wallingford: Venners, R Turner, Brettel (Bird 79), Holton, Sayce (Risk 40), Pooler, Viljoen, Blaszko (capt), Hill, Keable, M Turner, Lewis, Jenkins, Chapman, Thorns (Bailey [blood 4-11] & 79).

Referee: A Swift (Oxfordshire).

Man-of-the-match: Holton.