Basingstoke Rugby Club came within three points of victory at the weekend with a much-improved performance at Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday.
The club’s recent poor performances leave them rooted at the bottom of the National Three London and Southeast League table.
The visitors failed to come away with any points, losing 19 – 17.
In a departure from previous pattern, it was the home side who opened the scoring, getting a converted try within two minutes of play.
Ten minutes later, Stortford doubled their lead with another converted try coming from a quickly taken penalty after ’Stoke were penalised for offside.
After 18 minutes, the visitors got their first three points on the board after Drew Humberstone converted a penalty.
Seven minutes before the end of the first half, Stortford notched up their third try. A missed conversion meant the home side had a 19-3 lead.
In injury time at the end of the first half, ’Stoke got their first try, with Tevita Raratabu scoring off a driving maul. Humberstone converted, taking ’Stoke within nine points going into the second half.
Rartabu got his second try after the restart in similar fashion to his first. Humberstone converted the try, bringing the visitors three short of a win.
But Stortford’s defence kept ’Stoke at bay and the visitors had to go home empty-handed.
Basingstoke face Diss at home on Saturday.
Photographs courtesy of Aaron Noonan
