Welwyn 0 pts v Basingstoke 52 pts away at Welwyn RFC Nov 17th 2007
Report by courtesy of Basingstoke Gazette.

Stoke stormed through to the 3rd round of the EDF cup with an emphatic win away at Welwyn, scoring 9 tries and keeping a clean sheet in a 52-0 victory. For much of the game Stoke were in control and defended well when needed. The line outs were again dominated by Stirling and the scrums secured good ball and a platform for Cooper at number 8 to exploit open space. A starting debut for Michael Jacobs from the Cavaliers and a debut for Dan Argent from the academy on 60 minutes will give selection an added spice, whilst worrying injuries to Dave Jones, Glen Lewis and Nick Cooper will be a concern. Unlike last week, Stoke started the game on the front foot from the first whistle, and were rewarded on 3 minutes with a Cooper penalty from 40 metres. On 12 minutes Stoke scored their first try following a superb cross kick from Barton that finished 10 metres from the home side's line. Stoke kept the pressure on and Jacobs gave an inside pass to Appleby to crash over from 5 metres out and an 8-0 lead. Cooper extended the lead on 20 minutes when picking the ball at the base of the scrum and galloping 20 metres to score and duly converted his own try for 15-0. The visitors then seemed to relax and Welwyn had their best spell of the game playing in Stokes 22 for the next 7 minutes. Solid defence kept them at bay and an important steal by the ever improving Folan finally relieved the pressure. Stoke worked their way back up field and on 32 added a further 5 points from a try by Scott after good work from both forwards and backs in a move that went from a Stirling steal at a line out on Stokes 10 metre line. On half time Cooper almost repeated his earlier feat but this time his bulldozing run was stopped short of the line.

Stoke started the second half as they finished the first half, and scored the first of their 6 second half tries on 45. Another Stirling catch at the line out on half way saw Appleby burst through the mid field to feed Cooper and Folan was on hand for the score and 25-0. Two minutes later and Welwyn tried to run from their own 22 from a kick ahead by Stoke. Buttle was able to tap tackle the runner and Appleby was on hand to run from 40 metres out and score, Cooper added the extras for a 32-0 lead. Welwyn continued to plug away and on 52 minutes looked to have the ideal opportunity to score a try with a 3 on 1, only for the final pass to hit the players' chest on the line, and a knock on given. Having lost two against the head Stoke nicked one back and a good handling move saw Lewis nearly score in the corner before he and then Stirling who superbly kept the ball alive for Argent to dive over the line and 37-0. Stirling was enjoying his day and rounded off an excellent display with a try on 68. He won a shortened line out 15 metres form the home side's line to feed Jacobs and was on hand to receive the pass and crash over and 5 more points. On 72 Argent scored his second try with a mazy run from 30 metres out after good work by the backs and now lead by 47-0. Stoke were now down to 13 players on the pitch due to all substitutes being made and injury, but it did not stop them adding to their total. Good ball won by the forwards, saw Richards and then Argent both make inroads before Gareth Jones scored in the corner to round off a competent performance. What could have been a potential banana skin for Stoke saw them bounce back from last week's loss and put in a performance that was, and should, have been expected of them.

Afterwards a happy Dixon added "That was a nice job done. We overcame last week's loss with a good victory. We controlled the majority of the game to-day and put together a lot of good rugby. We have to carry this forward to our league game next week against Worthing." Team: Barton, Lewis, Richards, Jones(G), Buttle, Jones(D) (Argent), Jacobs, Hawae(Henry), Folan, Oliver, Scott (O'Leary), Stirling, Appleby, Dixon(Williams).