MARLOW remain fourth in the South West 2 East table after edging Salisbury 12-5 in a cagey match on Saturday.

Salisbury held territorial advantage for the first half-hour but with Marlow's resolute defence at their stubborn best, the first opening for either side did not arrive until 30 minutes, when Charlie Biggs fell just short with a long-range penalty.

Biggs made up for it five minutes later when he stepped inside his opposite number before exchanging passes with Jaksa Lovreta to go over, converting his own try to make it 7-0.

Seconds later, Biggs picked out Dan Gillespie and the prop forward powered home from 30 yards to increase the lead to 12-0.

Marlow should have built on that but their attacking momentum gradually faded and in the final half-hour a string of handling errors and misplaced passes cost them.

Rhys Luke was consigned to the sin bin for the final ten minutes and Salisbury immediately exploited the gap to score a try of their own and set up a nervous finish.

Marlow cannot afford to be so profligate at league-leaders Cleve today.