Canterbury 24, Basingstoke 10

IT WAS a tale of two halves as Basingstoke RFC won the first, but were well-beaten in the second, writes Martyn Humberstone.

Leading 10-7 at half-time, it looked like 'Stoke were heading for their first win of the season in London division one.

However, in the second half, the home side scored 17 unanswered points - consigning 'Stoke to their fifth consecutive league defeat.

On a blustery afternoon in Kent, early play was scrappy and there was no pattern of play from either team.

'Stoke struck first when, on their second serious venture into Canterbury's half, they were awarded a penalty 30 metres out. Fly-half Simon Humberstone duly converted it to ensure a 3-0 lead.

'Stoke were defending well throughout the first-half and easily kept the home side at bay.

But, like so many scores against 'Stoke this year, it was an error and not the opposition's play which created a try-scoring opportunity.

On 25 minutes, a mis-directed pass on their own 22 was dropped in midfield and a Canterbury player kicked the loose ball to the try line, winning the chase for the touchdown in front of the posts. The try was converted to give Canterbury a 7-3 lead.

The home side then had a second row player yellow-carded on 29 minutes to give the advantage to 'Stoke, and during the 10 minutes the opposition player was off, 'Stoke played their best rugby of the afternoon.

Runners became available, with Steve Hobden and Simon Appleby at the fore, and 'Stoke were rewarded with a penalty on 32 minutes, which Humberstone narrowly missed.

With time running out in the first half, Vincent Feausi made a break for a try, only for the move to break down two metres from the home side's line, resulting in a lineout.

A two-man line was called, but a mis-directed throw was collected by Jim Dixon and the rest of the forwards joined him to drive the ball over the line, with Humberstone adding a fine conversion five metres in from touch.

With a high level of optimism surrounding the players at the start of the half, 'Stoke then found themselves on the back foot by conceding a penalty on 45 minutes, which the home side missed.

Canterbury were now playing better and were rewarded with a try on 50 minutes, which was converted, to take a 14-10 lead - one they did not surrender.

Just five minutes later, 'Stoke shot themselves in the foot again when a pass went to the wrong player and a resulting poor kick allowed the opposition to counter from their own half.

The Canterbury right wing brushed aside three tackles, allowing him to link up with his forwards, who recycled the ball and switched play to the left wing to score in the corner for an unconverted try - making it 19-10.

Although there was hope that 'Stoke could claw their way back into the game, they instead slipped into their old habits of conceding possession by forcing the play with some unnecessary kicking.

On 70 minutes, the home team completed the scoring by rounding off pressure with a chip over the 'Stoke defence that was touched down for a further five points.

Yet again, this was very much a game that 'Stoke lost through their own errors. They showed only in brief phases that they can play good rugby.

Man-of-the-match Hobden played well, but too many players went into their shells when there was a chance to go and win the game.

Speaking afterwards, player-coach Dixon said: "We have got an awful lot of work to do before our next game in two weeks against Old Albanians.

"An area we need to put right is that of ball retention, both in hand and also in not kick-ing the ball away. We will work hard and, if necessary, I will add extra training sessions."

'Stoke: M Lucas, B Parsons, E Chimbima (O Rogers), V Feausi, S Buckland, S Humberstone, D Lillywhite; P Perkins, M Evans (capt.), S Hobden, M Francis (C Hampson), A Wilson, S Appleby, J Dixon, T Northcote (I White).