Basingstoke RFC slip into the bottom three of the National Three London table after losing a crunch match against Tring.
Basingstoke went into Saturday's game at Down Grange hoping to beat fellow strugglers Tring.
But their 29 -37 loss puts ’Stoke six points adrift of relegation safety and one point ahead of North Walsham, who have a game in hand.
It took just three minutes for Tring to open the scoring. A blind side pass from the back of the scrum drew in ’Stoke defenders, letting the visitors play it wide to score in the corner.
Ceri Cumming nearly scored after intercepting a pass 30 meters out. He was brought down just short, but the ball was passed out to Andrew Humberstone, who crossed over.
Cummings converted for ’Stoke to enjoy a brief lead.
But the visitors took control from the off and a quick-tap penalty in their own 22 started off a move that ended up with Tring touching down under the posts for a converted try.
The boot of Cummings kept ’Stoke in the game and two penalties meant the home side were leading 13-12 after 25 minutes.
David Bates then capitalised from a quick penalty, surprising the visitors, who could not stop him bursting through the defence line.
’Stoke went into half time leading 18-12, but any hopes of extending the lead into the second half were shattered minutes after the restart.
The Tring scrum half chipped over the defence and a generous bounce meant Basingstoke were beaten to the ball giving the visitors a converted try.
Another successful Cummings penalty kept Basingstoke in the lead, but it was the visitors’ ability to drive the ball forward that proved to be ’Stoke’s downfall.
Half way into the second half a Tring lineout set up a drive to the line and the home side crossed over for a converted try.
Cummings prevented the visitors running away with the game, but another converted try by Tring saw them rack up more points.
But ’Stoke managed a consolation try with 15 minutes left of the match. Roni Leoaiwai managed to battle through the defence to score an unconverted try.
’Stoke will hope to climb out of the relegation zone by securing a win on Saturday away at Gravesend.
