A HAMPSHIRE CUP FINAL AWAITS for Basingstoke RFC's 1st XV, beating league rivals Portsmouth 46-17 with a dominant six-score display. Sam Clarkson continued his fine form on his return from injury with a hatrick, along with tries from Alfie Rowley, Oscar Rowley and Matt Wise, leaving the side one match away from their first piece of silverware since the perfect 2018/19 season.
The hosts came out the blocks hot, with the first score coming just three minutes into the game. The hosts were held up in an initial line out drive, before Alfie Rowley exploited the Portsmouth defence from the resulting goalline drop out, running in untouched from twenty metres out. Fly Half Louis Morris, on his second start for the side, bisected the posts from the touchline to make full advantage.
Portsmouth reduced the deficit to two shortly afterwards with their powerful pack driving over from a five metre line out of their own, before Oscar Rowley followed his captain and younger brother's example by crossing for one of his own. Off the back of a strong midfield scrum, the ball was spread from one wing and then back again, before a trademark hard line from the rangy outside centre sliced through the Portsmouth defence. Morris again converted, taking the score to 14-5.
A strong start in the set piece gave the hosts a real platform, which the hosts used to full effect to score their third. Consecutive scrum penalties deep in Portsmouth territory had the visitors on the brink, with Number 8 Clarkson taking full advantage, picking up off the base to go in untouched for the third Basingstoke score.
Two more scores followed in a one-sided first half - multiple picks and goes in the tight saw Matt Wise go over for the fourth, before Clarkson's clever pick and go down the blindside off the back of an Oscar Worsfold break saw Basingstoke go into the break 31-5 to the good.
Half time saw both sides ring the changes, with coach Eric Liebenberg able to give the likes of Worsfold and Alfie Rowley a break. The reshuffling saw Portsmouth gain ascendancy, but some resilient goalline defence kept the visitors out. The dam eventually broke with Portsmouth diving on a loose ball in the dead ball area, bringing the score to 31-12.
Keen to arrest any Portsmouth momentum, stand in captain Stephen Ansell elected to go for three points when in a kickable position. Morris obliged, extending the lead to 22 points.
The hosts were hungry for more, playing some expansive rugby against a Portsmouth defence that was starting to flag. An incredible team score which went the length of the pitch saw Clarkson cross for his third out wide, before Dan Mairs showed glimpses of his former life as a winger, gassing the last Portsmouth defender and galloping over from 30 yards. Rory Kerr's conversion was successful, taking the score to 46-12.
While the game was over as a contest, the visitors continued to the last and crossed for a consolation third score, making the final score 46-17.
It was a brilliant all-round performance from the boys, ending Portsmouth's 12 match unbeaten run and adding real momentum to the season run in. The final sees Basingstoke come up against New Milton, who progressed to the final after being awarded a walkover against Andover.
Elsewhere, the Dragons came off second best in a 62-38 loss to Tottonians II in the Counties 3/4 Hampshire Reserve. Coming up against high flyers in the league above, the lads gave it their all with a big second half display, but the gap proved too big to close.
