Basingstoke continue the pressure

Basingstoke 21pts v London Nigerian 8

Basingstoke continued their good league and cup form with a seventh consecutive win that sees them consolidate their second place in London Division 1. London Nigerian visiting Basingstoke for the first time put up a brave performance against the home side that dominated possession. the torrential rain and win of the morning gave way to calm conditions off the field. On it Stoke started sluggishly and it took sometime for Stoke to get into their stride. The home side welcoming back Ian Calder made some good forays into the Nigerian's half but the greasy ball did not help the home side who love to run the ball. But after 17 minutes of the first half they finally got it right when a powerful surging run by Jason Rees saw score near the posts. Ian Calder converting. Nigerians started to put together some good passages of play but good defence kept them to a penalty kicked by No 10 Mike Morrison. The home side with Hooker,Drawbridge and Wilson ruling the roost in the lineouts and Phil Della-Savina back to his predatory best kept Basingstoke going forward and it finally paid dividends when a break by Tom Dean down the blind side put Robbie Holmes away for a fine try. Calder converting.

Half-time Basingstoke 14 pts L Nigerian 3 pts

The second half saw Basingstoke take a stranglehold on the game but to their credit the visitors did not give in and some stout defence combined with some wrong options kept the scoresheet quiet and in fact it was Nigerians who opened the scoring in the second half, a dropped pass in the visitors 22 saw No 13 Chichi Obuaya gather the ball and sprint away up the field to score in the corner, his grin getting wider all time. This shook up Stoke and again they camped themselves in nigerians half and finally in the 33rd minute of the second half after the forwards had battered at the away side's line Steve Drawbridge plunged over to score, this to cap a fine week for him as he represented the Army against Oxford Univ last Wednesday. Calder converted the try after previously hitting the post with a penalty. There was no coming back for L Nigerian who at the end looked a tired side but had defended with spirit. For B'stoke Richard Baker's men called all the shots, dominated most phases of the game, with man of the match Phil Della-Savina always in the thick of things. The backs for once did not have it all their own way but in the end a good win which keeps up the pressure on Havant.

NEXT GAME 2nd Feb, away to Haywards Heath (League) ko 2:30 pm

link to RFU site