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Stoke win as away side! Andover 6 pts v Basingstoke 6 pts at Andover 5th February 2006, Hampshire Gales Cup Semi-Final
CONFUSION reigned at Basingstoke’s Hampshire Cup semi-final at Andover on Sunday. The visitors got out of jail with a stoppage-time penalty from Simon Humberstone at the Goodship Ground that secured a fortunate 6-6 draw to put them into the final. Hampshire Cup rules state that, in the event of a tie, the match is first decided on tries scored and, if that does not settle proceedings, the away side is awarded the match. Match referee Paul Burton seemed unclear about the rules at the end of a scrappy clash that was tied thanks to a brace of penalties from teenager Humberstone, on 26 and 88 minutes, and veteran Andover player-coach Marc Wilding, on 40 and 48 minutes. At full-time, Burton blew to signal 20 minutes of extra time, which the rules state should only happen in the final itself. A bizarre five minutes ensued. Andover clearly thought this was the correct ruling, but Hampshire RFU competitions secretary John Sneezum went on to the pitch to explain that ’Stoke had won. Burton then called captains Lester Culley and Simon Appleby to inform them it was game over, much to Wilding’s disappointment, having missed a 77th-minute penalty which would have sealed a win that his team’s efforts deserved. His London three outfit, unbeaten at home all season, were the better side and they prevented ’Stoke from playing the vibrant rugby that sees them challenging for the South-West one title. His counterpart, Jim Dixon, said: "We knew we had won," but the Kiwi acknowledged his team had produced a poor display against a side he praised for their "outstanding defence". Stoke will host holders Havant, who got a walk-over against Winchester to reach the final at Down Grange on March 19 without playing a match in the competition. "It’s not the way we wanted to get there, but we’ve made the final and can now look forward to playing Havant," said Dixon. "It’s the match the club and players wanted. We want to win this cup and make amends for last year’s cup-final defeat by them." Team: Gareth Jones; Carl Saunders, Simon Buckland, Matt Lucas, Karl Buttle (rep Carl Marshall 50min); Simon Humberstone, Darren Lillywhite; Shane Murphy, Mark Bushnell, Phil Perkins (rep Kym Townsend 70min), Ross Stirling (rep Adie Hopkins 62min), Russell Northcote, Chris Williams, Simon Appleby, Jim Dixon. Reps (not used): Simon Crew, Jamie Fish, George Scott. |