Basingstoke 26pts, Dings Crusaders 5

WATCHED by many of the club's financial backers, Basingstoke turned in an awesome performance to secure their first points of this year's campaign against Dings Crusaders.

It was 'Stoke's first home game of the season and will give them a massive lift after two hard games away to division three south's toughest opposition.

'Stoke started in lively fashion and took the game to their opponents right from the kick-off. This was rewarded immediately as a good break by Matt Lucas set up Carl White for the game's opening try.

The following passages of play were very physical with the 'Stoke pack, led brilliantly by captain Kelvin Chapman, standing up and outplaying their bigger and more fiery counterparts. This set up a strong platform for the backs, who made several breaks which they were unable to convert into points.

Bristol-based Dings also had their moments, although they were unable to find their way through a stern 'Stoke defence and were restricted to two badly missed penalty attempts in the first half.

'Stoke's persistence was eventually rewarded as Ian Calder added two penalties for an 11-0 lead, while a Dings player was sin-binned for continuous infringements as their frustration began to show.

The game was continually disrupted in the lead up to half-time as several players received treatment for blood injuries as the intensity of the game began to show. In the closing minutes of the first period, Basingstoke's Steve Hobden was sin-binned for killing the ball and another Dings player was binned for foul play.

'Stoke started the second half as they had the first and made their one-man advantage show by camping on Dings' line for the first 10 minutes of the half.

However, once again, they were unable to turn pressure into points and Dings' resistance paid off. With their binned players returned, the visitors broke and scored a good unconverted try through their winger Sylvan Edwards.

Dings' pressure continued and they were nearly rewarded again as a good move set up another try-scoring opportunity, but a knock-on five metres from the line brought a halt to the move.

This seemed to change the game as 'Stoke re-established a firm grip on the game. Continued pressure eventually saw White brilliantly beat two men to score in the corner.

Calder added another penalty before Elimon Chimbina finished the scoring with a try, which was converted by Calder.

The game was marred in the final minutes as a fight broke out between both packs as tempers flared. As a result, a red card was shown to Dings' replacement prop, again for foul play.

Basingstoke will be very pleased with this performance as they showed great unity in overcoming a very physical and psyched up Dings side.

Afterwards, a battered but jubilant Calder said: "That was a performance that all 19 players can be proud of. We competed in all phases of play and were not willing to be intimidated by the opposition.

"All our players were prepared to stand up and be counted, and this has now set up a platform to build from. On a day like today, it is hard to single out individuals. However, Simon Appleby gets the man of the match award for his continual development in national league rugby."

Basingstoke: M Lucas; C White, S Buckland, R Northcote, R Holmes (rep E Chimbina); I Calder, T Humphries (rep D Lillywhite); S Hobden, M Evans, S Buttle (L Ryder), A Wilson, K Chapman (capt), S Appleby, J Dixon (rep C Hampson), S St Bernard.