Basingstoke Rugby Club’s January slump continued as they notched up a fourth straight loss on Saturday away to Gravesend on Saturday.
The Down Grange side continue to struggle third from bottom as their chances of climbing out of the National 3 London relegation zone start to fade.
It was a 15-minute blitz of four trys that saw a competitive ’Stoke side’s hopes of points shattered as Gravesend won 51-15.
The opening half saw the home side gain points 30 minutes in, with an unconverted try from a quick penalty. Two further penalties racked up an 11-point deficit.
But just before the break David Bates was able to power over after a break from Andrew Humberstone.
But five minutes after the restart Gravesend extended their lead with a score out wide.
Humberstone kept ’Stoke nipping at their opponents’ heals, converting a penalty chance.
A converted Gravesend try shortly after showed the fans who was in charge of the game.
But the game nose-dived following the sin-binning of ’Stoke’s Ratu Komaisavai for tripping a player.
And the one-man advantage allowed the home side to score on 65, 70 and 73 minutes.
’Stoke battled on with an Ashley Patterson try and Humberstone conversion making the score 44-15.
But a dropped pass shortly before time let Gravesend complete the scoring and ’Stoke travelled home with no points.
Basingstoke’s bid for survival will continue when they take on Bishops Stortford at home on Saturday.
