Basingstoke 11 pts v Reading 6 pts Home Sat 6th Jan 2007 at Pack Lane

Report by courtesy of Basingstoke Gazette.

Stoke started the new year with an outstanding performance to gain a well deserved victory over local rivals Reading despite dread full playing conditions. Playing to a more disciplined game plan and making few mistakes, particularly in the second half, was the foundation of the win and two points. Whilst the rain had stopped by kick off both sides were trying to adapt to the conditions with Reading finding their feet first. The visitors kept the ball tight and made ground with rolling mauls at every opportunity and Stoke took time to negate these tactics and were penalised too often in the early stages. As a result it was the visitors that took an early lead after missing one kick at goal they scored 3 points on 12 minutes. Stoke were then put under more pressure when Murphy was harshly yellow carded on 14 for a high tackle.

Unlike in previous games this year Stoke did not leak points when down to 14 men but regrouped and held firm as a team. Reading extended the lead to 6 points with another penalty but the tremendous defencive play from Stoke kept the home line safe. Slowly Stoke began to control the game and from the half hour mark were playing in the visitors 22. In the wet conditions Stoke pressurised the visitors and Rutherford tackled a visiting player as he slipped, was adjudged to of made a high tackle and was given a yellow card. Again Stoke reorganised and did not let this affect their game. As a result the home side continued to play in Reading's 22. Even when Goodall missed a penalty on 35 Stoke went back on the offencive and battered the home line for the last 5 minutes but were unable to score being stopped or held up metres from the line.

The second half performance was superb and every player played their part to ensure a victory. Murphy was prominent as a willing runner, Dixon was back to his rampaging best and Appleby worked industriously on his 100Th game. Stoke played the conditions perfectly and primarily Humberstone and also Rutherford kept the ball in front of their forwards by kicking for the corners. Reading then had to try and play from their own 22 but had to win the ball at the line out. Here Stoke disrupted one of the visitors strengths with Williams and Scott working tirelessly in not only winning their own ball but also disrupting the visitors put in. Stoke were now going forward with discipline and very few errors made. Reading were being penalised near to the red zone and Stoke chipped away with 2 Goodall penalties to level the scores. During sustained pressure Appleby and Williams were held up over the line, Rutherford, Swenson, Dixon and Lambert stopped short but Stoke kept up the pressure as Reading had a player yellow carded for handling on the ground. On 59 Stoke finally took the lead when Lilleywhite fed Lambert on the short side to go over for the 5 points. The home side continued to play the better rugby but were unable to add to 5 point lead.

One scare Stoke had was when a kick on their own 5 metre line was charged down and regathered in the dead ball area but Swenson appeared from nowhere to turn the player and slide over the dead ball line. This was the only time the visitors threatened until the last 5 minutes. Reading sensed that time was running out and when Stoke were penalised on 75 the visitor missed a kick able penalty but this meant the ball was now in the Stoke half. It was now the visitors turn to camp on the home side's 5 metre line for the last 2 minutes. However to-day was not a day for Stoke to concede any tries and their defencive line held firm until the final whistle. Credit must go to both teams to play a competitive game in such conditions but it was Stoke who played with purpose and play the game to keep pressure on the visitors. A delighted Dixon added "I was very proud of the players especially when down to 14 men on two occasions. Defensively we were superb and we did not panic when putting pressure on their line. We must build on this performance for the rest of the season."

Team: Goodall, Lambert, Patrick, Rutherford, Swenson, Humberstone, Lilleywhite, Young, Lovegrove (Rowlands), Murphy, Scott, Williams, Appleby, Dixon, Northcote(T), not used Pywell, Buttle.