Winchester thrashed!

Basingstoke 25 pts v Havant 8 pts

Basingstoke assured themselves of a home play-off place on Saturday beating local rivals Winchester. The FX-backed side ran in 7 tries and outclassed their opponents in all areas of the field. They produced a powerful display and played good, expansive rugby in difficult conditions. Stoke were dominant in both scrums and lineouts, setting a strong platform for the backs that, led by Ian Calder, took full advantage.

Calder played well at fly-half, kicking well and setting up the two centres Jason Rees and Neal Taylor, both in blistering form for 5 tries two for Rees and a hat-trick for Taylor.
Stoke playing with the swirling wind slightly in their favour in the first half opened the scoring after just 2 minutes after Winchester lost a scrappy lineout, that Marcus Reeve was to capitalise on scoring in the corner. This was brilliantly converted by Calder from the touch line. Winchester then posted their only points of the match from a dodgy penalty after Stoke had lost their own lineout ball. The ball seemed to cross directly over the post and neither linesmen gave it but the referee thought differently and awarded the points.
Basingstoke then began to take a grip on the game and after numerous breaks from Calder, Taylor and scrum-half Tom Dean Stoke eventually scored their second try after 23 minutes from a well worked move in the backs that sent Taylor through a gap for his first of three tries. Calder again converted for a 14-3 lead. From then on it was all Basingstoke and they never looked like conceding any more points or losing the game. Although at times they were not playing their best rugby they looked always in control. 5 minutes later and Stoke scored again although the referee did not give it. A miss directed drop-goal from Calder bounced kindly for Dave Jones who was adjudged to have dropped the ball when touching the ball down. They didn't have to wait long for their next score though as from the resultant scrum Stokes forwards won a ball against the head and Jason Rees was fed on the blind and looked to score, but later credited the try to Taylor. Calder again converted well from the touchline with the ball scrapping the post as it went over. After 36 minutes the score was 26-3 after Stoke broke from their own 22, showed good support play with the ball going through numerous hands and phases before Rafer Joseph crossed in the corner for the only unconverted try in the game. That was how the first half finished after Stoke were unable to finish off a chance in the closing minutes of the half.

Stoke started brightly in the second half and put some sustained pressure on the Winchester line. This was rewarded after 13 minutes When Taylor and Rees combined to put Rees over for his second try again converted by Calder. 9 minutes later and it was 40-3 after a good turnover by back row players Della-savina, captain Baker and Marcus Reeve who again played well as a unit allowed Rees to cross for his hat-trick, converted by Calder. Then it was Taylors turn to complete his hat-trick and the scoring after the back-row combined to turnover the tiring Winchester pack again and Taylor sprinted in from 30 metres. Calder again converted to bring his tally to 12 points.

Afterwards Calder said" I was very pleased with the forwards display espeically the scrummage that has suffered in past weeks. The pack also put in a strong performance as a whole that set up the victory. Nigel Hooker also played well in the second-row for his man-of-the-match and the defence was great to prevent them from scoring any tries.

Full time Winchester 3 pts v Basingstoke 47 pts

NEXT GAME Saturday 13th April, home to Thanet Wanderers ko 3:00 pm

link to RFU site