Seven on the trot

Haywards Heath 19 pts v Basingstoke 28 pts

Basingstoke will feel quite fortunate to come away with the 2 points from this game after being 7 points down with just 10 minutes remaining. But in the last ten minutes Stoke were able to lift their game another gear and their fitness was to prove superior.

Both teams controlled this game for long periods and seemed to play better into the wind than with it. Stoke were playing into this strong wind in the first half again and played some good rugby. They again kept it tight but were getting pinned back by kicks from Haywards Heath who were using the wind well.
Heath were first to get points on the board after 5 minutes of pressure they converted a penalty from wide out for a 3-0 lead. Stoke replied well and after a spell of pressure and good recycling, Steve Drawbridge went over for his second try in 2 games after 20 minutes. Heath then took the lead again with another penalty after they had missed one 3 minutes earlier on 27 minutes and extended it further after 33 minutes with another penalty. Haywards Heath then had a player sin-binned for punching and Stoke tried to take advantage of this by playing the last 5 minutes in their 22. However it was Heath who came the closest to scoring on the stroke of half-time with a break out resulting in the ball being held up over the line.

Half time Haywards Heath 9 ts v Basingstoke 5pts

In the second half Stoke were expected to use the wind well and to win comfortably and started the better with Gareth Jones almost scoring but getting called back for a double movement. Heath then started to play like Stoke did in the first half, keeping it tight and doing the basics well. This was rewarded when they scored a try in the corner after just 7 minutes. This was wonderfully converted from the touchline into the wind.
For the next 20 minutes the game was played in the middle of the pitch with neither team breaking through. This deadlock was broken on 25 minutes by a Chris Norton try after a well chased kick. Converted by Ian Calder. Heath then extended their lead to 7 points with a penalty. This was the point that Stokes fitness started to kick in and they scored 2 tries in quick succession through two forward driven tries after re-cycling possession from a scrum and line-out. One was scored by Andy Wilson and the other by Matt Evans with one converted by Calder.

Again the forwards competed well and the backs tried to use the ball whenever possible. The game was raped up in injury time with a Calder penalty for a 27-19 win and an extension of their winning run to 7 games in the league.
Afterwards Calder said" It was a tough game that we lost our way in for 20 minutes when Haywards Heath played good keep ball. But with good fitness and peserverence we pulled through and scored tries when needed. Matt Evans played well when he came on and has shown good commitment for his man-of-the-match".

Reporter Simon Humberstone

NEXT GAME 9th Feb, home to Havant (League) ko 2:30 pm

link to RFU site