Basingstoke take a thumping 65-13.

Basingstoke suffered a heavy defeat on Saturday away to a very experienced Barking Team who made good use of their possession to win 65-13. This was not how the spectators saw the final scoreline early on when having been announced that Basingstoke were the last side to win at Barking last December Stoke kicked off to start the game. St.Bernard won the ball Dixon drove into the 22 the ball was recycled to Calder who went down the blindside to feed White who scored in the corner. Calder added the 2 points for Stoke to lead 7-0 with less than a minute on the clock. Stoke held their own until the 15th minute, during which both sides missed a penalty kick, when Barking converted pressure as a double miss move from their fly-half and man of the match Casey Mee scored under the posts with a conversion following leaving a 7-7 scoreline. From the re-start Stoke lost the ball and Barking gathered, recycled the ball to score in the corner added the conversion to lead 14-7. On 22 minutes Barking added a further 5 points after Stoke conceded a free kick inside their own 22. For the next 19 minutes Stoke battled well with both sides each scoring 2 penalties but the worry is that both of Barking's penalties came straight from the re-start after Calder successful kicks. With the score at 25-13 to Barking and added time being played the game was effectively beyond Stoke as Barking added 2 tries on 41 and 43 minutes adding one conversion to go in at half time leading 37-13.

The second half developed a pattern where every time Stoke ventured into Barking's half a silly mistake gave away possession and allowed Barking to clear their line. This happened on 15, 20 and 25 minutes and proved costly when Barking scored with moves that began in or around their own 22. The rest of the half was spent in Stoke's half with good defence keeping Barking at bay until again in added time Barking scored one more converted try to win 65-13.

For Stoke Chapman did well in the line-outs and the back row worked tirelessly but it was Barking's experience that dominated the game. After a disappointed Calder added "Barking were the better team and we look forward to reversing the score line when they visit us. There are areas we need to work on and with no fixture next week it gives us extra time to regroup before our next league game."

Team Saunders, Holmes (Murdoch/Jones), Buckland, Chimbima, White, Calder, Lillywhite, Hobden (St. Bernard), Evans, Buttle, Wilson (Hampson), Chapman, Baker, Dixon, St. Bernard ( Appleby).

NEXT GAME Saturday 27th September away to Launceston, National 3 South. k.o 3:00 pm.
                

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