BASINGSTOKE RFC finished 2014 on a losing note as they lost 42-14 to visiting Guildford.

The home side were forced to re-shuffle their line-up, with Ryan Davis, Gavin Hart, Guy Wilkinson, Ben Stewart, Matt Woodhouse and Matt Guilfoyle all missing.

So a young side took to the field to take on a side second in the London One South table.

Early on ’Stoke did well, but it was a false dawn as once Guildford got going they dominated the game.

The Surrey side’s first try came on eight minutes, after Jarrod Adam kicked the ball into the corner and from the line-out won by Rob Mitchell, the visitors drove at the line and at the third attempt Bill Mairs went over. Adam added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

A Guildford penalty from 22 metre line is then put wide by Adam, but soon after a nice move saw Kris Mannering score and Adam kicked the conversion.

By the 29 minute mark, the visitors looked to have wrapped up the game, as from a line-out the ball is thrown along the line and Rory Andrews goes in for the try.

Once again Adam added the conversion to make it 21-0.

Basingstoke’s best move of the opening 40 minutes comes just before the break, as Ross Caitlin found Callum Staff and he off loaded to Jake Whitby, but he is tackled at the five metre line and then Guildford force a turn-over.

In the second-half, the visitors added three more tries to their tally, the first being the pick of the game as a kick to the far right touchline is caught by Dan Wilde and he runs in unopposed for the bonus point try. Adam kicked the conversion.

Basingstoke then had some good pressure, but are unable to go over and from a break Guildford scored again from Ross Booker and from wide out on the touchline Adam added the extras.

After 66 minutes, the visitors thanks to good work from their pack go over again as Adam scored and he converted his own try.

Basingstoke finally got on the scoreboard seven minutes later, as Jobi Kochanowski went in at the corner and Caitlin kicked the extras.

The home side are now having their best spell of the game and they scored again from captain Freddie Gleadowe and Caitlin with the final kick of the game added the conversion.

The two late scores gave the score line some respectability, but in truth the home side were well beaten.

They now have a break from action until January 3 when they face a trip to Cobham.