Here's a round up of how our age group sides got on over the weekend!
Basingstoke U13s - Home Win v Tadley
U13’s welcomed Tadley this Sunday for our first game of the Season after the game with Trojans was called off last week.
Basingstoke u13’s lent a player to Tadley to enable a 13 vs 13 game to go ahead. BRFC took control early on dominating the scrums and breakdown areas, this gave the backs a strong platform to work off, a few early breaks ended in loose / forward passes. Once the boys settled Earlier decisions helped the Ball move quickly through the hands across the back line this led to multiple tries during the first half. The support play from all players was pleasing was pleasing to see. Great running lines from backs and forwards help make the score at halftime ended 25-0.
Basingstoke completely changed their team for the second half and lent more players to a spirited Tadley side. It was good to see some of the forwards get on the score sheet and well worked tries from both wingers helped to increase the score. The Tadley team battled well right to the end.
A huge shout out goes out to the players from Basingstoke who wore the Tadley shirt in the second half, displaying brilliant rugby values!
Basingstoke U14 Boys - Petersfield RFC U14 Vs Basingstoke U14 Boys - 27-17
A great start to the season!
The first game of the season, an away trip to Petersfield, certainly did not disappoint! Both teams came out strongly from the opening whistle, setting the scene for an exciting and hard-fought U14 encounter.
Basingstoke opened the scoring after just eight minutes. A lovely pick-up from Owen F drew the Petersfield defence in off the line before he produced a superb pop pass to Jenson C on the wing. Jenson finished the move brilliantly to get Basingstoke’s first try of the season.
Petersfield responded just four minutes later, but not without being made to work hard for it. The Basingstoke boys put in a mighty defensive effort, forcing Petersfield through seven phases of play before they eventually found a way over the line.
Petersfield looked threatening again after a Basingstoke kick allowed them to break through the defensive line. However, Harry G produced a fantastic finishing tackle to chase down the runner and prevent what looked like a certain try. Unfortunately, Harry took a knee to the head and was unable to continue, retiring from the game shortly afterwards.
Petersfield continued to apply pressure and eventually scored their second try, but Basingstoke responded in style, with Ewan P crossing the line to bring the score back and ensure the first half remained finely balanced.
The second half saw Basingstoke continue to battle hard in defence, but Petersfield maintained pressure and spent much of the half in Basingstoke territory. Their speed to the breakdown caused problems and they managed to add two further tries to the scoreboard.
Despite the pressure, the Basingstoke boys never dropped their heads. They finished the game exactly as they had started it — with attacking intent. A lovely break created the opportunity for Daniel B to score Basingstoke’s final try, with Reuben N adding the extras with a fantastic kick straight through the centre of the posts.
Final score: Petersfield 27–17 Basingstoke RFC
A defeat on the scoreboard, but plenty to be proud of from a Basingstoke side playing their first game of the season. The defensive effort, attacking moments and determination to keep fighting right until the final whistle were all hugely encouraging.
Congratulations to Ewan P for winning Man of the Match.
There is plenty to build on, but if this opening performance is anything to go by, this U14 team has plenty of exciting rugby ahead of them. Not too shabby for the first game of the season! 🏉💙
Basingstoke U14 Girls - Home Joint Training Session
Basingstoke u14 Girls kicked off their season with some joint training and matches against Trojans, Winchester and New Milton the visitors to down grange on a busy Sunday afternoon.
A step up for many of the girls playing on a full sized pitch with lots of new players to the game gaining some valuable playing experience.
The Basingstoke girls played some fantastic rugby in patches with strong positive performances in all the games. This encouraging start to the season showed there are some really positive signs for the season ahead!
A really good afternoon of rugby for all teams involved with lots of girls getting some competitive rugby under their belts!
Basingstoke U15s - Fawley 35 Basingstoke 25
U15s kicked off their league fixtures with a trip to Fawley RFC. A strong start saw the 'Stoke boys get first points on the board through a well finished team try. Fawley kept in touch and then went ahead with a couple of Pens. The game was tight but the stoke boys were strong at the scrum and were retaining the ball well.
At half time they were unlucky to go in a point down after not converting some good chances and having a try harshly ruled out for a double movement.
The second half was also close with the lead changing hands a couple of times and the boys battling valiantly when reduced to 14 men after being shown a yellow card. After letting the lead slip a quick ko from stoke put Fawley under pressure but they managed to retain the ball and a fast break exposed us out wide with Fawley breaking to score meaning stoke were really chasing the game with time running out. A hammer blow to the boys chances was another break out wide from Fawley with a try scored effectively putting the game out of reach. The boys showed great resilience to lift their heads and have the last say on the score board with a 4th try for the team.
Frustrating day for the boys and we were ultimately punished for not taking all of our opportunities. Some real positives in the scrum and ball retention compared to last week. Final score Fawley 35- 25 Basingstoke
Basingstoke U16s - Basingstoke 12 Tadley 14
Basingstoke welcomed Tadley to Down Grange for the first league game of the season.
The match started off scrappy, with balls knocked forwards and handling not quite accurate enough. Tadley put the pressure on a stern Stoke defence who already were having to tackle hard to keep them at bay. Some big hits in the middle of the park from Thomas, Henry and Archie were setting the tone to stop Tadley making more headway. Then came the 1st try, missed tackles allowed the Tadley attacker to coast through the Basingstoke line to go under the posts and converted.
Then came a period of injuries for Stoke who's forward pack was having to continuously re-shuffle.
Then came Tadley’s 2nd, again after defensive lapses they went in to make it 12-0 converted to make it 14-0 at half time.
2nd half begins and with the wind behind them and the slope in our favour Basingstoke started to get a few pods going, make some gains into the Tadley half. Charlie Swords getting his backline motoring with some confident carries and big hits forcing errors from Tadley. A quick tap and go from a penalty 5m out allowed skipper Harry A to go over for Stokes 1st which Charlie narrowly failed to convert. The tempo started to lift and Tadley started to tire, it was all Basingstoke but that little bit of indecisiveness in the pass, in the breakdown and calmness alluded them at important moments. Then came the moment that meant Stoke could taste blood and seek that win... strong work in defence by Josh Spencer resulted in a 40 plus metre carry that set the ball up for a pod carry led by the impressive Thomas Jones, quick ball out wide through the hands of Riley, Charlie, Roan and then a great miss-pass from Josh Smith into the hands of a waiting Finley who still had some work to do to get over in the corner for the 2nd. A monster conversion from Charlie pulled Stoke to within 2 points.
Basingstoke continued to knock on the door and a drop goal effort from Charlie sailed just wide after making great contact. The final whistle went but amongst the disappointment of the result was a massive shining light of performances by players that this time last season were not quite as confident and the fact the boys came back from a 1st half of adversities to almost win a game of rugby that we'd have most likely lost well last year. Onto Winchester we go next week and continue with the 2nd half confidence.
Basingstoke U16 Girls - Basingstoke 19 Ellingham and Ringwood 12
Our U16 Girls were the first Basingstoke side to kick off their competitive season last Wednesday, as they headed to Trojans to face Ellingham and Ringwood in a National Cup playoff!
With only a few days' notice, the girls showed their commitment to the club and to each other - cancelling birthday plans, rearranging college open days and even booking flights to ensure they had the best chance of progression.
Basingstoke delivered under the lights, coming out on top as 19-12 winners. For a side that included several girls playing together for the first time, the girls lived up to the coached high expectations of this amazing group of players and should be incredibly proud of themselves.
Basingstoke Colts - Basingstoke 22 RAMS 19
Colts had a very competitive match in the cage agaisnt RAMS colts, our last warm up friendly before the cup and league matches start next week. For most of the match the score went back and forward with never more than one score difference, we went ahead with 10 mins to play and did a huge defensive set to keep the win.
Final score was 22-19 to Basingstoke
