Basingstoke 7pts Tabard 30

AFTER the joy of two great wins, FX-backed Basingstoke were brought down to earth on Saturday as they crashed to a home defeat against Tabard.

The defeat by the Hertfordshire-based side, whom 'Stoke had beaten on the first day of the season, meant that the two swapped places in national division three south with the Down Grange side slipping back towards the danger zone.

Tabard led from the fifth minute when their first venture into the Basingstoke 22 resulted in an easy penalty.

Basingstoke then applied pressure on Tabard and, just when they were rewarded with a penalty in a promising position, they received their first setback from one of many strange refereeing decisions.

Phil Della-Savina was sin-binned for stamping and consequently the penalty was reversed. Tabard kicked into the corner and produced a pushover try.

'Stoke hit back immediately when Steve Drawbridge forced his way over from close range. Ian Calder kicked the conversion to bring the home side back into the game at 10-7.

This was as close as 'Stoke were to get to leading the game as Tabard pinned them into their own 22 with forceful drives and intelligent kicks, using the wind well.

Tabard were awarded several lineouts and scrums but brilliant defence kept them out.

'Stoke had two opportunities to clear their lines but lost both their scrums and eventually were punished when Tabard crossed for an unconverted try in the corner.

'Stoke looked to hit back but a loose pass allowed Tabard to fly-hack their way into their 22. There the visitors were awarded a penalty, which they kicked to touch and scored their second pushover try.

In the second half the home side were playing with the wind and would have expected to hit back. But they failed to add to their seven first-half points while Tabard added two late tries.

After they missed two relatively easy penalties, Tabard eventually crossed for their fourth try to put the game beyond any doubt after another simple but effective lineout move.

Just to add to Basingstoke's misery, Tabard added one last try in the final minute of play as their fly-half intercepted a home breakout and ran in unopposed.

This was a disappointing home performance after the promise of the previous two weeks when they beat high-riding sides Westcombe Park and Old Patesians. Credit must, however, be given to Tabard who stuck well to their game plan and prevented 'Stoke from playing their usual flowing rugby.

Afterwards, player-coach Calder said: "It was a performance that we were perhaps not mentally focused on and it didn't help that we gave them three soft tries.

"We tried to force the game at times instead of playing our normal style. Their forwards used well the experience they have to set up a solid platform.

"We need to be at our best next week both mentally and physically to get back in winning ways and Havant are the team we have to beat in the local Hampshire derby game."

Basingstoke: C Norton, Y Cullum, J Rees, N Taylor, D Lambert (rep B Kirwan); I Calder, T Dean; S Collins, M Evans, S Buttle (rep N Young), K Chapman, S Drawbridge (rep N Hooker), P Della-Savina, R Baker (capt.), S St Bernard (rep M Reeve).