Basingstoke 10pts, Old Colfeians 29

AFTER last week's dogged performance at Richmond, 'Stoke showed a Jekyll and Hyde character with a poor display against rivals Old Colfeians.

There was little evidence of the effort and commitment shown against Richmond and, as a result, 'Stoke lost this game against a team they should have beaten.

For much of the game there were too many errors from both teams and very little free-flowing rugby.

It took 'Stoke three minutes before they got their hands on the ball and their first visit into their opponents half saw a penalty which Brian Parsons duly converted for a 3-0 lead.

There then followed some scrappy play from both teams until 20 minutes in, when Colfs scored their first try and conversion for a 7-3 lead.

At this stage, the visitors were playing a tight game, attacking from the fringes of the break down and the home side were trying to be the more expansive team.

For 'Stoke, the new front five didn't particularly gel in the lineout, normally an area of secure ball, nor in securing quick ball at the tackle zone.

On 27 minutes, after pressure from 'Stoke, Simon Appleby appeared to have been driven over the line for a score, only for the referee not to give it.

Nearing half-time, following some good hands, Jan van Jaarsveld (pictured above) made a lovely break into Colfs' 22 and drew the last line of defence, only for the supporting Jason Luff to drop the pass.

The opening of the second half was again disjointed but turned when ill discipline cost 'Stoke the loss of Phil Perkins. He got a yellow card for interfering at a ruck.

Against 14 players, Colfs scored a penalty and a converted try to extend the lead to 17-3 on 66 minutes, after the visitors drove over the line and the referee adjudged a try was scored. The 'Stoke players were not in agreement, claiming bodies were underneath the ball.

'Stoke then started to force the game and began to run the ball out from their own 22 - a tactic both rewarding and costly.

Firstly, the reward came when man-of-the-match Vincent Feausi broke two tackles in his 22 to race clear. Nearing the visitors' 22, he offloaded to the supporting Carl White, who then fed van Jaarsveld to score under the posts.

Parsons converted for a 10-17 deficit.

Sensing the opportunity to get something out of the game, on 77 minutes 'Stoke attempted to again run the ball from inside their own 22, only for a pass to go to ground.

A Colfs player was on hand to pick up and score an unconverted try.

With the last move of the game, a speculative high ball from the visitors was dropped on the home side's 22 and a Colfs player was again there to score under the posts. The try was converted.

In the final 12 minutes, both teams were reduced to 14 men when the referee yellow carded one from each team - harsh on both players - and again added to the start/stop game which suited the visitors.

Afterwards, senior coach Jim Dixon had some harsh words to say.

"That was probably the worst display I have been involved in since I have been with Basingstoke," he fumed.

"The amount of errors and penalties that we needlessly gave away cost us, as did having yellow cards against us.

"I will have time to review the video and clarify the areas we need to work on this week, although some are clear already."

'Stoke: Parsons, Luff, van Jaarsveld, Feausi, White, Lucas, Lillywhite, Perkins, Evans, Davenport, Wilson (Stirling), Chapman (White), Appleby, Dixon, St. Bernard. Not used: Rees.