Basingstoke 45 pts v Portsmouth 12 pts Nov 3rd 2007
Report by courtesy of Basingstoke Gazette.

Stoke produced a tremendous performance to defeat local rivals Portsmouth 45-12, but more importantly gained a much needed 2 points. With the score being only 9-7 to Stoke at half time few could of seen a second half performance that would give such a resounding win. Stoke rang the changes and the personnel delivered. Once the team had developed an understanding with each other then the quality of ball and the options taken made for an open and clinical performance from the home side considering only 4 players from last week started in the same position this week. Stoke again got off to a good start when on 2 minutes the influential Trendell converted a penalty and repeated this again on 16 minutes to lead 6-0. Portsmouth replied 3 minutes later when their wing Ofuasia was tackled 10 metres out only to somehow off load to a supporting runner to score in the corner and former Stoke player Claffey to convert from the touch line and put the visitors in front 7-6. Stoke were now starting to play the ball in the right areas, again with Trendell being the play maker and although he missed a penalty on 23 he made amends on 29 to regain the lead 9-7 which was to be the half time score. The second half got under way and with Stoke having a solid platform in both the scrum and line out the right options needed to be taken if they were to put their opponents to the sword.

First score of the second half came from Buttle after a backs move saw the ball passed out along the line with a miss pass and the winger making room for the try, converted by Trendell. Portsmouth came back and scored 5 points from a try on 49 but from then on it was to be the home sides day. Trendell started things off with a snipping blind side break from 25 metre out to touch down and then ably convert from out wide to lead 23-12. Appleby was next on the score sheet on 60 minutes in support of a Buckland break he received the off load to out strip the defence from 25 metres out. Trendell added the extras and then stepped up to put over a penalty on 69 minutes to lead 33-12. On 75 minutes Stoke were in their own half when they decided to run the ball out of defence, Started by Lambert and assisted by Goodall and Buttle Stoke chipped ahead on the Portsmouth 22 for that man Appleby to be the chasing player and dive on the ball for a further 5 points. Portsmouth did not give up and tried to run the ball at every opportunity but this then led to Stokes final try on 82. The visitors had a 5 metre scrum on their own line after Buckland had a try not given. They then tried to run the ball from inside their own in goal area and a miss-timed pass that went straight to Lillywhite who touched down under the posts and a simple conversion rounded off the scoring for a large crowd to cheer as the final whistle blew. Stoke set their stall out early with dominance in the scrums and quality ball from the line outs. From the good ball won it was not only the right decisions being made but more importantly the right execution that was the difference from previous weeks.

A delighted Dixon added after "That was a magnificent team performance. I am very proud of the effort put in by all the players and we have now set our bench mark to build from. We must ensure that this is not a one off performance and continue to play like this week in week out starting with the league leaders Richmond next week."

Team: Goodall, Lambert, Russell, Buckland, Buttle, Trendell, Lilleywhite, Young(Capt), Folan(Perkins), Hawea, Stirling, O'Leary, Appleby, Dixon(Williams), Cooper, not used Richards.