Basingstoke 14 pts v Clevedon 13 pts at Pack Lane Jan 12th 2008
Report by courtesy of Basingstoke Gazette.

Stoke gained a dramatic late victory against Clevedon and in so doing booked themselves a place in the last 8 of the EDF cup. In a less than convincing display, the running clock was showing 86 minutes and Stoke down 13-9, when they were awarded a penalty on their opponents 22 and kicked for touch and a 5 metre line out. Clean ball was gathered and the drive followed. Inch by inch the Stoke pack moved towards the try line and over. The ref took a long hard look at the pile of bodies before raising his arm for a try as Dixon emerged with the touchdown and a 14-13 lead which was to be the final result two minutes later. The match was played in dry conditions and it was Stoke who started the brighter but Clevedon made it difficult to win quick clean ball at the breakdown. When Stoke were going forward they looked dangerous with pick and drives enabling them to try and release the backs but too often the ball was slowed down and this led to poor decision making and errors then occurred. This was evident when on 15 minutes a good spell of pressure from Stoke in the visitors 22 was chipped over the top when keeping it in hand could of been better. The visitors were first to the ball and touchdown and from the resultant 22 put the ball back deep in Stokes 22. Without being threatening Clevedon were doing the basics better than Stoke and took advantage of the home sides mistakes. Stoke did manage to get on top with a Goodall penalty on 28 minutes and the visitors missed the chance to level on 33 minutes. There then followed a poorly executed drop out from Stoke on 34 minutes which led to a 5 metre line out for the visitors. This was to be the best period of pressure play from Clevedon but the Stoke forwards repelled the pressure and defended their line. Stoke eventually got their hands on the ball but instead of clearing their lines they choose to try and run from near the try line and the opposition centre to intercept and stroll over for a converted try on 37 and a 7-3 lead going into half time.

Stoke started the second half the better and reduced the arrears to 7-6 with another Goodall penalty. There then followed a period of play where Stoke were guilty of too many mistakes and allow the visitors to take more control of the match. As a result a penalty on 48 and another on 60 for the visitors gave them a 7 point cushion and 20 minutes to go. Stoke were now making changes in an effort to get something from the game and slowly began to get the upper hand. On 71 minutes after a promising passage of play into the visitors 22 ended with a penalty against Stoke and a Yellow card for Nick Cooper. With time running out and down to 14 men Stoke were starting to pressurise the visitors on a consistent basis and were awarded a penalty on 79 minutes by the running clock. Skipper Young consulted with the ref to find out what was left on the clock and chose the 3 points leaving a try to win. This caused much debate not only at the time but in the bar after as to whether this was the right option, however they were not to know that there was still 10 minutes of time left. There then followed more Stoke pressure before the dramatic late try which left the visitors disappointed in getting nothing from the game and Stoke happy with a win if not with the performance. Stoke also finished the game with some worrying injuries, a knee injury to Stirling and an eye injury to Buckland who both disappeared up to the hospital after the game. If Stoke are to progress they need to play better than to-day in eliminating mistakes and better decision making and they need to put this right for next weeks home league match with bottom side Thanet.

After Dixon did not want to comment on the match itself but more in the fact that "We won the game and are through to the next round."

TEAM: Goodall, Lewis, Buckland, Richards, Buttle, Barton, Jacobs, Young (c), Folan (Hawea), Oliver, Stirling (Holmes), Cooper, Williams (Scott), Appleby, Northcote (Rob) (Dixon).