Stoke through to final.

Winchester 19 pts v Basingstoke 40 pts

In extremely blustery conditions a below par performance from FX backed Stoke was still good enough to see them win this semi final match and book a home tie for the final. When Winchester scored three minutes into the second half to reduce the deficit to 21-12 and playing with the wind the match was poised for an interesting second half but Stoke raised their game to run away 40 points to 19 winners. The game started well for Stoke with an early try after three minutes under the posts by Berti and converted by Calder for a 7-0 lead. Taking advantage of the wind Stoke then extended their lead when Dixon rounded off some good play to score and leave Calder an easy 2 point addition. Now leading 14-nil Stoke seemed to take their foot off the pedal and started to play some sloppy rugby. They spilled too much ball gave away penalties did not take advantage of the wind. As a result the home side were allowed back in the game and scored a well deserved try on 28 minutes to trail 14-5. With the heavier Winchester pack causing problems in the tight and their apparent desire to win loose ball more than Stokes the line out ball won by the recalled Stirling was the only quality ball won but that was often disrupted by the wind moving the ball off a straight line. It was more relief on 42 minutes when Calder scored and converted to extend the lead to 21-5 for the half time score, but with the home side turning round with the wind in their favour was that enough of a lead? With Winchester scoring as early as they did Stoke needed to play up to the standard they had set themselves in previous weeks. Whilst not aspiring to those levels Stoke upped a gear and replied on 48 minutes with Lilley white rounding off a good passage of play for Calder to add two points and when Appleby scored on 52 minutes for a further 5 points and a lead of 33-12. Stoke had moved into a more comfortable position. Winchester were trying to use the wind but found particularly Humberstone and Buckland willing to launch counter attacks back at them. The home side did give themselves a slim chance on 68 minutes with a converted try to leave 2 scores in it. However, Stoke were not to be denied and Feausi scored under the posts on 77 minutes to seal the game 49 points to 19.

After Dixon added "We let ourselves down by under performing but still came away with a win. The Hampshire Cup is important but next week it is back to the league and we can not play like we did today. Our aim has to be to pick up league point and what better way than to get two of them at London Scottish!"

Team: Humberstone, Buckland, Feausi, Calder, Rogers (Chimbima). Berti, Lilleywhite, Rushworth, Maxwell (Evans), Perkins, Wilson (R Northcote), Stirling, Appleby, Rees, Dixon, not used Bussati.

link to RFU site