Basingstoke battle out important win

FX backed Basingstoke have started their great escape with two crucial wins over Weston Super Mare last week and Tabard this week. This game turned out to be one with lots of good play, controlled mostly by Stoke, discipline and patience were the key elements that won the match for Stoke. After just six minutes Basingstoke had the chance to take the lead with a penalty 15 metres out in front of the posts, Ian Calder stepped up and kicked the three points. The next score also went to Basingstoke, a good build up with Murray Roeske feeding Calder who then gave a pass to Robbie Holmes who let Simon Appleby crash over with a try 5 metres from touch. A good conversion attempt from Calder just drifted wide. On 22 minutes Stoke had yet another chance to increase their lead when Tabard gave away a penalty resulting in a yellow card for their No 8 (captain). Instead of the safe three points Calder ran it wide making ground up to the Tabard try line, after 2 passages of play the move came to an end with a knock on. After a few dubious decisions from the referee Tabard end up with a penalty under the posts 15 meters out, they converted the penalty to leave the score at 8-3. On 42 minutes, the only period of sustained pressure from Tabard result in a try on the far touch line. Their Fly Half Colborne, converted with a very good kick.

This left the half time score line as 10-8 to the visitors which did not reflect on the game, as Stoke were playing the better rugby and had territorial advantage.

On 5 minutes into the second half good line out ball from inside their own 22 stoke spin it wide, Neil Barton Making a half break carried up to Tabards 10 metre line and out of no where Selwyn St Bernard ran in a 40 metre try finishing it off with a Ben Cohen dive to get pass the full back, Calder converted an easy kick to make the score 15-10. On 15 minutes a miss hit kick ended up in the arms of Barton who kicked through, Buckland chased hard but unfortunately the dead ball line beat Buckland to the ball. An all round good performance from Stokes front eight continued with a great scrummage resulting in a Stoke penalty on Tabard's 10 metre line. In blustery conditions Calder's kick hits the post. Another chance went begging when a chip ahead bounced towards the Tabard try line only for the ref to claim a knock on when a try looked to have been scored. This did at least keep the pressure on the visitors and kept play in their half. More great scrummaging from Stoke's pack resulting in another penalty on Tabard's 10 metre line, and Calder's task was then made easier when Tabard were made to retire another 10 metres for talking back to the referee, Calder slotted the kick straight through the posts for the last points of the match leaving the score at Basingstoke 18-10 Tabard.

The overall play from Stoke was again impressive with scrummaging and line out possession good, ball retention a lot better and good discipline. Jim Dixon led well from the front with Neil Barton putting in a more mature performance with man of the match going to Silvester. A delighted Calder added "That was another great all-round team performance over the 80 minutes. That is what we have been aiming for and training hard at. Our defence was superb as was seen by us not conceding any points in the second half. It is also good to get back to winning ways at home for our supporters."

Final Score Basingstoke 18 pts v Tabard 10 pts

NEXT GAME Saturday 14th February away to Old Colfeians 2:30 pm.

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