THREE tries in the opening 10 minutes set Basingstoke RFC on the way to a comfortable 57-14 victory over Hampshire rivals Gosport and Fareham.

Saturday's game on the south coast was 'Stoke's first game after a three-week Christmas break but there was little sign of rust as Karl Buttle, Andy Hore and Jake Henderson all scored in the early stages.

Buttle completed his hat-trick before half-time, making it 36-0 at the break, and while Gosport scored twice early in the second-half, Buttle's fourth, Matt Horne and a penalty-try completed the rout.

See The Monday Gazette for a full report and all of the reaction.