JAMES Croker was delighted with his Basingstoke RFC side’s second-half display as they secured maximum points from their Hampshire derby against Havant.

The ’Stoke director of rugby felt his side were below par before the interval – but he was pleased with the way they took control of the game in the second period, eventually winning the game 38-18.

“We were not at our best in the first-half,” he admitted. “We let Havant disrupt our game and we must learn from that.

“In contrast, I thought we played very well in the second-half. We controlled the game in all areas and our strike rate conversion was much more clinical than it has been.

“We need to take that second-half performance into our next three games, which are sure to be difficult away matches at Hove, Dover, and Haywards Heath.”

See The Monday Gazette for a full report.