Basingstoke win first game 26-5

Watched by many of the clubs financial backers, Basingstoke turned in an awesome performance, to secure their first points of this years league campaign against national league newcomers Dings Crusaders. It was Stoke's first home game of the season and will give them a massive lift after two hard games away to the leagues best opposition. Stoke started in lively fashion and took the game to their opponents right from the kick-off. This was rewarded immediately as a good break by Matt Lucas set up Carl White for the games first points. The following passages of play were very physical with the Stoke pack, led brilliantly by captain Kelvin Chapman, standing up and outplaying their much bigger and more fiery counterparts. This set up a strong platform for the backs who made several breaks but were unable to convert this into points. Dings also had their moments, although they were unable to find their way through a stern Stoke defence and were restricted to two badly missed penalty attempts in the first half. Stokes persistence was eventually rewarded as Ian Calder added two penalties for an 11-0 lead, whilst a Dings player was sin-binned for continuous infringements as their frustration began to show. The game was continually disrupted from here until Half-time as several players received treatment for blood injuries as the intensity of the game began to show. In the closing minutes of the half Basingstoke's Steve Hobden was sin-binned for killing the ball and another Dings player was binned for foul-play.

Half time Basingstoke 11 pts Dings Crusaders 0 pts

Stoke started the second-half as they'd started the first and made their one man advantage show as they camped on Dings line for the first ten minutes of the half. However they once again were unable to turn pressure into points and Dings resistance paid of, as, when their binned players returned they broke and scored a good unconverted try through their winger Sylvan Edwards. Dings pressure continued and they were nearly rewarded again as a good move set up another try scoring opportunity but a knock-on five metres from the try-line brought a halt to the move. This seemed to change the game as Stoke re-established a firm grip on the game. Continued pressure eventually saw Carl White brilliantly beat two men to score an unconverted try in the corner. Calder added another penalty before Elimon Chimbina finished the scoring with a try, again converted by Calder. The game was marred in the final minutes though as, whilst Chimbina scored, a big fight broke out between both packs as tempers flared and a red card was shown to dings replacement prop, again for foul play. Basingstoke will be very pleased with this performance as they showed great unity in overcoming a very physical and psyched up Dings side. The win will hopefully set them up for a good season and has proved to others, but more importantly to themselves that they can compete in this league.

After a battered but jubilant Calder added "That was a performance that all 19 players can be proud of. We competed in all phases of play and were not willing to be intimatated by the opposition. All players were prepared to stand up and be counted, and this has now set up a platform to build from. On a day like to-day it is hard to single out individuals but Simon Appleby gets the man of the match award for his continual development in his standing in national league rugby."

Final Score Basingstoke 26 pts v Dings Crusaders 5 pts

NEXT GAME Saturday 18th October away to Southend, National 3 South. k.o 3:00 pm.
                

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