DAVE Lambert’s hat-trick try with the final play of the game gave Basingstoke RFC a thrilling 43-39 victory at Old Tiffinians in London South West Three.

However, it did not start well for Stoke, as the home side built up a 10-0 lead.

The visitors opened their account with an Ed Mallaby try, which was converted by Tom Humberstone.

Old Tiffinians replied with two more tries to take a 22-7 lead, but by the break the lead had been reduced to just three points.

Captain Rob Northcote scored the first try, which Humberstone converted and then Lambert opened his account with an unconverted score.

Two minutes after re-start Stoke took the lead for the first time in the contest, as good work from Steve Hicks, Jon Bird and Grant Murdoch led to Lambert scoring his second try and Humberstone kicked the extras.

The home side replied with a penalty to reduce the lead to one point, before Stoke scored again from Rob Durham after Brent Evans’ great run from midfield found Northcote and the skipper released the try scorer to make it 31-25.

Old Tiffinians hit back with a converted try to re-take the lead, only for the visitors to score after a great run and chase from Murdoch, which Gareth Cripps-Jones converted with 10 minutes left.

As the tension grew, the home side were next to strike in the last five minutes to make it 39-38.

However, Stoke would not lie down and the last play of the game saw Lambert score his hat-trick try and despite the conversion hitting the outside of the post, the visitors were victorious 43-39.

The side now have a week off before their next league game, which is a trip to Millbrook.