Basingstoke bury Jersey in a one-sided county final

With home advantage and a four-league cushion over their opponents, Basingstoke were overwhelming favourites to cling onto the county cup for a tenth time in fourteen seasons, but the manner of the victory was sadly too predictable.

Although Jersey led for a period in the opening quarter and enjoyed some good phases of possession, even to the point of domination, especially in the scrum, once Basingstoke got their noses in front, there was no-way back for the visitors.

Playing with a stiff wind advantage in the first half, 'Stoke were on the board in the opening minute through Jason Rees, but Jersey struck back well and were rewarded when hooker Doc Snook got the touchdown.

But they were kicking the quality possession they had away continually, and it played into Basingstoke's hands. The tactic of the crosskick attempting to find winger Matt Howe at pace was all too easily snuffed out on each occasion.

Fly-half Jonathan Swift posted a penalty, but it was all he really contributed to the game for his side. His decisiveness was woefully lacking, and the higher league opposition swallowed him up.

A try from big West Indian Selwyn St Bernard put the home side ahead, with David Jones, the youngster at fly-half replacing the influential injured Ian Calder, posting the conversion and an earlier penalty to stretch them away.

When scrum-half Tom Dean grabbed the first of his four and Neal Taylor went over close to the posts, the wind was clearly out of Jersey's sails and although they were to have the conditions in their favour after the interval, they knew they were done.

Two in four minutes of the restart from Dean was followed by skipper Richard Baker getting in on the act, while replacement number eight Simon Appleby brought up the half-century with their eighth try.

Dean's fourth, one from centre Barrie Kirwan and a final burst up the wing by Rees rounded off the record tally, overtaking Havant's 61-12 scoreline in the 1996 final against Gosport & Fareham.

For the young Jersey side, it was a lesson in what they have to achieve if they want to compete at this level, although Basingstoke Director of Rugby Ian Calder was not short on praise for the defeated visitors.

"There was a difference in the league levels, but for the first 30 minutes, you would have struggled to pick out who was who. But a bit of accuracy got us going and we put in some good rugby.

"Despite the result, Jersey played some good stuff and were still competitive throughout. They were worthy finalists, but for us to come out with 74 points from a good 80 minutes is a real bonus."

Richard Isaacs echosport@soton-echo.co.uk

Basingstoke strolled to the retention of the Hampshire Worthington's Cup with embarrassing ease, as they swept aside an overawed Jersey side by a record score in the 33-year history of the competition, writes RICHARD ISAACS.

With home advantage and a fourleague cushion over their opponents, Basingstoke were overwhelming favourites to cling onto the county cup for a tenth time in fourteen seasons, but the manner of the victory was sadly too predictable.

Although Jersey led for a period in the opening quarter and enjoyed some good phases of possession, even to the point of domination, especially in the scrum, once Basingstoke got their noses in front, there was noway back for the visitors.

Playing with a stiff wind advantage in the first half, 'Stoke were on the board in the opening minute through Jason Rees, but Jersey struck back well and were rewarded when hooker Doc Snook got the touchdown.

But they were kicking the quality possession they had away continually, and it played into Basingstoke's hands. The tactic of the crosskick attempting to find winger Matt Howe at pace was all too easily snuffed out on each occasion.

Flyhalf Jonathan Swift posted a penalty, but it was all he really contributed to the game for his side. His decisiveness was woefully lacking, and the higher league opposition swallowed him up.

A try from big West Indian Selwyn St Bernard put the home side ahead, with David Jones, the youngster at flyhalf replacing the influential injured Ian Calder, posting the conversion and an earlier penalty to stretch them away.

When scrumhalf Tom Dean grabbed the first of his four and Neal Taylor went over close to the posts, the wind was clearly out of Jersey's sails.

And although they were to have the conditions in their favour after the interval, they knew they were done.

Two in four minutes of the restart from Dean was followed by skipper Richard Baker getting in on the act, while replacement number eight Simon Appleby brought up the half-century with their eighth try.

Dean's fourth, one from centre Barrie Kirwan and a final burst up the wing by Rees rounded off the record tally, overtaking Havant's 61-12 scoreline in the 1996 final against Gosport & Fareham.

For the young Jersey side, it was a lesson in what they have to achieve if they want to compete at this level, although Basingstoke Director of Rugby Ian Calder was not short on praise for the defeated visitors.

"There was a difference in the league levels, but for the first 30 minutes, you would have struggled to pick out who was who.

"But a bit of accuracy got us going and we put in some good rugby.

"Despite the result, Jersey played some good stuff and were still competitive throughout.

"They were worthy finalists, but for us to come out with 74 points from a good 80 minutes is a real bonus."