Andrew Fitchett kicked his final points before a return to New Zealand as Basingstoke beat Portsmouth 55-14.
On a sun soaked pitch the Champion backed ‘Stoke started off well but it was Portsmouth that were to draw first blood after six minutes, when missed tackles in the midfield allowed their centre to skip through and score a converted try to give them a 7-0 lead.
The home side came back six minutes later when Portsmouth needed to find a safe touch but due to good pressure from ‘Stoke, the wayward kick was collected by Andrew Fitchett who weaved his way through the opposition to score with Mike Goodall converting to make it 7-7.
‘Stoke continued to play some good rugby and from a well won lineout they moved the ball quickly along the backs with Tim Richards going over in the corner after 22 minutes for 12-7, putting the home side ahead for the first time.
‘Stoke were now in the ascendancy and putting together some good phases of play which resulted in an unconverted try on 29 minutes. A pick up from the base of the scrum by Goodall shrugging off several tackles before offloading to Robbie Northcote in support, who stepped the last of the defence to touch down.
Two minutes later a knock on by Portsmouth was punished when it was hacked on by Luke Flower. The visitors defence collected the ball on their line but the pressure applied by ‘Stoke resulted in a turnover and Paul Morris went over for the try with Goodall converting for a 24-7 half time lead.
‘Stoke started the second half in the same vein that they finished the first. Replacement Ollie John shrugged off tacklers and when he went to ground the forwards recycled quick ball to the backs. The play cut back inside and was held up just short of the line but the ball made its way back to John to finish off the move he started. The try was converted by Goodall to make it 31-7 after 7 minutes.
Five minutes later Morris stole the ball in a tackle and ran halfway down the pitch for an unconverted try. Morris was again in the mix three minutes later, popping the ball up to George Scott, a home favourite in his final outing for the club, who also ran halfway down the pitch stepping the fullback to score a try converted by Fitchett for 43-7.
The game went through a quiet patch for the next quarter of an hour before, on 31 minutes, another break by Morris and the ball moved between the backs before it was passed to replacement hooker Jon Bird, who had stepped up superbly from the ‘Stoke second team and the only forward up with play, to cross the line for an unconverted try to make it 48-7.
Portsmouth were not finished though and kept ‘Stoke under pressure so when the home side tried to clear their lines it was charged down and the visiting winger touched down with their fly half converting for 48-14.
‘Stoke wanted the final word and in injury time some great play and quick hands got the ball to Richards for his second try of the game. Fitchett, playing his last game for the club before returning to New Zealand, kicked the conversion to make it 55-14 with the final whistle.
Chairman of Playing, Chris Cook, was clearly delighted with the performance, “the boys returned to playing the rugby that they are capable of playing. A number of tries came from our defensive play and it was great that two of the outstanding performances came from the boys that are leaving, George Scott and Andrew Fitchett. We wanted to put down a marker for the Hampshire Cup Final and we did that today. The task now is to take this performance on to Bracknell.”
