Basingstoke U14s got their cup campaign off to a flying start with a convincing 0-50 win away at Farnborough RFC, securing their place in the next round of the waterfall competition against Gosport & Fareham. However, the result was only part of the story, with the game providing a great example of sportsmanship, adaptability and the true spirit of rugby.
Game On – Rugby in the Right Spirit !
Prior to the game, Farnborough let us know that they only had 14 players available. Although this was a cup fixture and naturally there was a desire to win, we agreed to reduce the game to 13-a-side in line with the RFU’s Game On principles. Both sides played without their two flanker positions, and we also reduced our available replacements to keep the contest as fair as possible, rather than having a fresh set of players ready to replace those on the pitch.
For me, rugby is about far more than the result. No club should be left struggling because of low player numbers, and making these adjustments was simply the right thing to do. We wanted a competitive game in which both teams could get stuck in and enjoy their rugby, and that is exactly what we set out to achieve.
A Flying Start for Basingstoke..!
Despite the changes to the format, it didn’t take Basingstoke long to get points on the board.
Just three minutes into the game, Harry G found his way through the Farnborough defence, exploiting space on the left-hand side to score an excellent opening try. Clayton L added the conversion.
Barely two minutes later, Harry G was at it again, running an almost identical line to claim his second try of the afternoon. Clayton once again added the extras, giving Basingstoke an early and commanding lead.
Basingstoke were showing no signs of taking their foot off the pedal. In the ninth minute, Owen F broke through the Farnborough defensive line to score out in the corner. Clayton then produced an excellent conversion from a difficult position, far out on the left, keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
Farnborough responded with a promising attack of their own around the 12-minute mark, spotting a gap in our defence and making 10–15 yards before Ewan P brought the runner down with a great tackle. From there, Clayton L launched a superb counter-attack, running over half the pitch and once again exploiting Farnborough’s left-hand side to score a well-earned try.
The next score came just a few minutes later. Noah C reacted quickly to an error at a Farnborough line-out, tackling one of their forwards to secure the ball. Owen F picked it up swiftly and offloaded to Harry G, who finished the move brilliantly to complete his hat-trick.
With only 15 minutes played, Basingstoke had already scored five tries. It was a fantastic start, built on quick thinking, support play and clinical finishing.
The following 10–15 minutes brought plenty more action, with both sides continuing to compete hard. Basingstoke made a couple of changes, with Finley H replacing Harry G in the second row and Guy M coming on for Jack at inside centre.
The next try arrived in the 23rd minute, when Clayton L spotted space down the right-hand side and delivered a perfectly weighted grubber kick into the open field. Ewan P showed great pace to chase it down, collect the ball and finish the move for another Basingstoke score.
At the 31-minute mark, Jenson C got himself on the scoresheet for the first time. A superb pick-and-go from Will P at scrum-half created the opportunity, and Jenson used his speed and agility to finish brilliantly.
With Basingstoke leading 50–0, the referee approached the coaching team in accordance with the RFU regulations for U14 rugby, under which a game must stop when the points difference exceeds 50. It was agreed that the cup fixture had reached its conclusion and that any further play would continue as a friendly.
Basingstoke had secured their first cup win of the season and booked their place in the next stage of the competition against Gosport & Fareham.
With the cup result settled, the game continued in the same positive spirit. The pace of the action made it difficult to keep track of every moment, but Basingstoke added further tries through Noah C, Leo WM and our newest player, Luka P. Conversions made by Reuben N and our very own captain, Leo WM.
Farnborough, to their enormous credit, continued to battle throughout. During the second part of the game, they took advantage of some slow reactions from Basingstoke at penalty situations, resulting in our side being marched back on two occasions. Farnborough capitalised on one of these opportunities to score their first try of the afternoon.
It was a well-deserved reward for Basingstoke but some credit must go to Farnborough - a team that never stopped working, never dropped their heads and continued to play right through to the final whistle.
Huge congratulations to Harry G, who was awarded Man of the Match by Farnborough. With a hat-trick and an excellent all-round performance, it was thoroughly deserved.
The afternoon was rounded off in true rugby fashion back at the clubhouse, with a hearty bowl of spicy sausage stew and a sing-song led by the birthday boy himself!
A Word for Farnborough
A massive shout-out to Farnborough RFC. They approached the challenge of limited numbers in exactly the right spirit, competed throughout and never once gave up, despite the scoreboard. Their tenacity and commitment were a credit to their club, and we look forward to welcoming them to Basingstoke next week for a friendly, where I’m sure they’ll come back fighting.
This was a great result for Basingstoke, but more importantly, it was a game that demonstrated teamwork, sportsmanship and respect for our opposition. Adjusting the format meant both teams could get valuable game time, and that is what youth rugby should be all about.
Well done, boys! Our cup campaign is up and running, and we’re through to the next round. On to the next one! 🏉
