Basingstoke 16, Weston-super-Mare 10

BASINGSTOKE maintained their bid to secure third place in the Powergen South-West One league after defeating Weston-super-Mare with a gritty display where they refused to let the referee's frustrating influence adversely affect their performance in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash.

As it was the showpiece match of the club's celebratory weekend to mark the official opening and first use of the new stand and main pitch, Jim Dixon and his players were determined to see the new era in with a stylish victory.

The victory came but the style, unfortunately, did not, as the free-flowing spectacle the large crowd of more than 300 people were hoping for never materialised, largely thanks to match referee Darren Garnage.

His constant use of the whistle and frustrating interpretations of the laws made for a stop-start game.

He also brandished five yellow cards and a red to further disrupt proceedings.

In a 51-minute opening half where 'Stoke led 10-3 at the interval, prop Kym Townsend and number eight Tom Northcote were sin-binned in quick succession, leaving 'Stoke with 13 men, although strong defence kept Weston at bay.

Similarly, Weston-super-Mare's props Alec Chase, on 26 minutes, and Tim Mathias, on 50 minutes, were also given 10 minutes to cool off.

Chase was shown his second yellow, and subsequent red, on 60 minutes.

The dismissals were part-and-parcel of a fixture that promised more than it delivered, but Dixon was pleased with the result.

He said: "It was a frustrating game to play in but the boys were determined to get the win, because we want to finish third and because it was such an important day for the club."

'Stoke moved up to joint-third with Weston on 31 points - they are now only separated by points difference in the table - and came from behind to win.

Weston went ahead on three minutes with a penalty converted by fly-half James Reid, but an injury to Simon Humberstone in the lead-up to a 'Stoke penalty ensured he was unable to take the eighth-minute dead-ball.

Wing Dave Lambert stepped up but dragged the kick wide from 10 metres.

Humberstone recovered from his knock and levelled with a kick on 16 minutes to become the first 'Stoke player to score for the club on the new playing surface.

Chase was sin-binned for dangerously coming in at the side of a ruck and it was while Weston were down to 14 men that Simon Buckland, on 33 minutes, combined with skipper Simon Appleby to race clear and score a try, which Humberstone converted.

The departures of Townsend and Northcote hit 'Stoke's pack, but the six remaining forwards held firm and they denied Weston to maintain the 10-3 lead.

Another scrappy passage of play greeted the opening 15 minutes of the second half, during which time Mathias was sin-binned, before Humberstone's penalty put 'Stoke 13-3 up.

With 14 men, Weston hit back with a try scored by openside flanker Kevin Hobbs after a driving maul, which Reid converted to make it 13-10.

But shortly afterwards, Chase was given his marching orders and 'Stoke upped the ante again, taking the three points on offer through Humberstone's boot, because of Chase's infringement.

Weston responded with a breakaway through pacy centre TJ Madamombe and wing Matt Burns, but great recovery tackles from Humberstone and Carl Marshall prevented damage.

That ongoing determination was matched in the forwards and they won a scrum against the head to advance again, but without final reward, as Humberstone's penalty sailed just wide on the strong cross-breeze.

Nevertheless, victory soon followed to the delight of the players and supporters.

Player-coach Dixon chose to praise Humberstone, who leaves for a six-month spell in New Zealand to play for Heriot, near Dunedin, in the South Island, for his contribution this season, and wish him all the best.

Humberstone is the club's leading points-scorer and second in the league standings with 221 points.

'Stoke: Simon Humberstone; Dave Lambert, Simon Buckland, Matt Lucas, Ollie Rogers; Carl Marshall, Darren Lillywhite; Simon Lovegrove, Andrew Rowlands (rep Phil Perkins 50 mins), Kym Townsend, Ross Stirling, Russell Northcote, Jim Dixon, Simon Appleby, Tom Northcote (Adie Hopkins 45 mins). Not used: Jamie Fish.

First published: Monday, April 10, 2006