Basingstoke scrape a draw at Staines

Staines 13pts Basingstoke 13pts

Basingstoke once again showed their inability to do well away from home. In a game in which they should have been soundly beaten they hung to get a point.
The early exchanges were even but the scrum which was Stoke's big problem started to surface early and time and time again they were unceremoniously shoved off the ball time and again, this nullified the backs and it was no surprise when Staines went over wide out but missed the conversion, in fact during the first half Staines missed five easy penalties and only converted one to lead 8-0 at half-time.

The second-half followed the same pattern and the forwards out played were struggling in every department apart from the line-out. The visitors eventually got themselves going and Ian Calder reduced the areas with a penalty. There then followed the best period of play for the visitors with some good runs from Neal Taylor and Richard Baker and to everyone's amazement including Stoke they took the lead when Jason Rees went over and Calder kicked the penalty to put B'stoke into the lead 10-8. Staines came back strongly and Stoke seemed to be weathering the storm but eventually they conceded a second try by the winger, the conversion missed. But Basingstoke stirred themselves again and Ian Calder via the crossbar kicked the vital penalty to get a share of the points. If Basingstoke are to be serious contenders in the league they have to learn to win away from fortress Basingstoke. Next week the form team Sutton & Epsom visit Down Grange.

NEXT GAME Nov 17th home to Sutton & Epsom ko 2:30 pm