HUNDREDS of people descended on Down Grange for the annual Sparstoke Cup match, which sees Basingstoke RFC Academy and Sparsholt College do battle in the name of charity.

The fifth annual match between the sides, played in memory of Tom Aslett, saw ’Stoke come out on top, winning 30-10 to reclaim the cup, which the college had won for the first time in 2010.

However, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was the real winner, with organiser Richard Aslett, Tom’s father, hoping to give the charity a cheque for more than £10,000 when all monies have been collected.

Mr Aslett said: “The event overall went really well and I think everyone enjoyed it.

“The crowd was similar to last year, with about 400 people there and I am hoping that we can raise about £10,000 again. It’s really good to be able to help such a great charity.

“We had a really good draw, with £1,000 worth of prizes ranging from luxury hampers to signed shirts, rounds of golf and meals.”

Aslett, who was just 20, died in July 2007 when the tractor he was driving overturned.

Due to his love of rugby, his family and friends came up with the idea of playing an annual match in his memory.

Basingstoke, the club he joined as a six-year-old, and Sparsholt College, where he trained for a career in agriculture, were the obvious choices to field teams. Both quickly accepted the invitation and the Sparstoke Cup was born.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was chosen to benefit because of their efforts to help Aslett after his accident and about £30,000 was raised for the charity over the first four years of the competition.

Basingstoke won the first three matches and while Sparsholt claimed victory in 2010, ’Stoke got revenge this year, winning 30-10. The college’s No 8, James Hood, was named man-of-the-match.

Mr Aslett said: “It was a very good game and the better side won on the night. The first half was all Basingstoke but Sparsholt turned it around a bit after the break and it was a good second half.

“It was as well contested as ever. Neither side held back and Sparsholt brought some good support with them as well.”

The evening has become a major event on the ’Stoke calendar – and Mr Aslett is already looking forward to next year.

“I’m sure we’ll do it again after the success this year,” he added. “We’ll get all of the donations in, have a bit of a rest and then start thinking about the next one.

“It was a really good night and it’s a fantastic way to remember Tom. It’s really nice that the event is still going and we still get great support from the club, the college, friends and family.

“I think it says a lot about Tom and the charity that the event is still so well supported. Tom was a popular lad and it’s a great charity. The two just come together really well.”