Hampshire open with a resounding win
2:07pm Tuesday 29th April 2008
HAMPSHIRE made a magnificent start to their County Championship Plate campaign, with Basingstoke players Luke Richardson and Karl Buttle scoring two tries each in a 55-0 victory over Dorset and Wiltshire at Swanage.
The visitors dominated in all areas, especially the set pieces, which allowed them to control the game and continually create chances, with flanker Harry Heasman, of Havant, prominent in loose play.
From the kick-off, Hampshire collected the ball and a 40-metre break from Heasman set up the backs - only for a mistimed pass to go to ground five metres from the home line.
At the first scrum, the front row, which included Basingstoke captain Neil Young, were harshly penalised for driving up, but it demonstrated a superiority which was maintained all game.
In the lineouts, skipper Scott MacKechnie and fellow second row Russell Forster won plenty of ball.
The opening score came after nine minutes with a try by Oge Ofuasia finishing off a spell of good pressure.
Scrum-half Grant Morris was next on the scoresheet with a terrier-like try on 22 minutes.
The conversion was added by Keith Molyneux for a 12-0 lead.
Hampshire continued to win possession and balanced their attacks with both forward charges and backs moves, with former Basingstoke player Dave Byett making several runs.
Hampshire finished the half with two more tries, the first by full-back Molyneux, who duly added the extra points, and then by Richardson following sustained pressure on the home line for a 24-0 lead.
The home team came out with more urgency at the start of the second half and it took the visitors' time to regain control.
On 51 minutes, Hampshire scored their fifth try, with Richardson crashing over again for an unconverted try.
Hampshire started to make team changes and another ex-'Stoke player, Sid Claffey, placed a clever kick for Buttle to chase, collect and outpace the defence for a further seven points on 71 minutes.
With Hampshire free to play a more expansive game, Robbie Searle and then Buttle were on hand to finish off good moves, which were both converted by Molyneux to bring up the 50 points on 79 minutes.
Searle rounded off the scoring on 84 minutes, collecting another chip ahead from Claffey that eluded the defence.
Afterwards Jason Ford, one of two former Basingstoke players who coach the county team, said: "That was a very pleasing performance by all the players.
"Everyone showed tremendous commitment for the whole 80 minutes.
"We have several more players available next week and some not available from this week, so we have healthy competition within the squad.
"Hopefully, we can continue next week in our home match against Buckinghamshire at Basingstoke and it would be nice to see a lot of support for the team."