Basingstoke go down at Old Pats 42-21, after leading 18-8!

Although a much improved performance for most of the match Stoke suffered another loss that allowed their opponents to move further away from them in the league position. Again Stoke held the upper hand for the first half and were leading until the 53rd minute and had they not given away too many penalties and had lapses of concentration they may well of had a bigger lead to defend at half time. Stoke playing with the slope and wind in the first half started as the better team and on two minutes won good line out ball,were Stirling had a good game, this allowed Kirwan to crash up the middle were the home team were penalised for Calder to kick the penalty for a 3-0 lead. Things improved further on 15 minutes both Calder and Kirwan were prominent in getting beyond the gain line which allowed quick ball to be recycled for Buckland to score an unconverted try having come off his wing to support the ball carriers. At this stage the only time the home team put pressure on Stoke was when the visitors gave away needless penalties particularly when in good field positions. From one of these penalties on 20 minutes the home team kicked to the corner and whilst Stoke defended the line out well were adjudged to of infringed at the breakdown to give away another penalty which was taken quickly for an unconverted try to be given. Stoke came straight back and two minutes later restored a 10 point lead when St. Bernard finished a move he started from a scrum having linked well with Calder who added the conversion. For the next 10 minutes Stoke applied good pressure on the home team but either simple handling errors of penalties given away allowed the home team to clear their lines. On 32 minutes Stoke gave away 3 penalties which allowed Pats to go from their own 22 into Stoke's 22 were they scored from a penalty. On 36 minutes Stoke replied when good ball from Stirling again allowed the forward to drive up field to the home teams 10 metre line before pulling down the maul and Calder kicking 3 points. On the stroke of half time Stoke give away another penalty on the half way line and a quickly taken kick caught Stoke off guard which resulted in an unconverted try to leave Stoke leading only 18-13.

Half time Old Patesians 13 pts v Basingstoke 18 pts

With only 3 minutes on the clock in the second half Stoke conceded a penalty to allow 3 points for the home team to narrow the score to 2 points. At this point Stoke were having to defend and did well until the 53rd minute when a scrum on Stoke's 10 metre line Pats put together 4 phases of play to score a converted try to lead for the 1st time in the match 23-18. From the restart Stoke had a harsh piece of luck go against them when the home team cleared the ball from just outside their own 22 and for the ball to go dead. Normally this would of been a scrum back for Stoke but the ball took a minor touch off a Stoke finger and ended with a 5 metre scrum for the home team. Stoke defended this well and Pats won another scrum where they were awarded a penalty try for a stray Stoke hand interfering to extend the lead to 30-18. Although Stoke got 3 points from a Calder penalty on 65 minutes the home side ran in two more tries on 70 and 78 minutes, one of which was converted, to give a final score of 42-21.

After Calder added "That was a better performance and the score rather flattered them. It was good to see Kirwan back and a good effort from debutante Neil Barton. What let us down was some poor discipline at times and we were severely punished when we went to sleep on the odd occasion."

NEXT GAME Saturday 10th January home to North Walsham k.o 2:00 pm.
                

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