BASINGSTOKE RFC closed the gap on their London One South relegation rivals, after they picked up two bonus points from their 32-26 loss at Gosport and Fareham.

’Stoke had hoped to repeat their excellent win over their Hampshire rivals from earlier in the season, but instead the home side extended their unbeaten record at Gosport Park to five games.

After the visitors suffered an early yellow card, Gosport opened the scoring after five minutes, as scrum-half Wes Dugan scored an unconverted try.

The sides were then levelled in numbers as Alex Duncombe was sent to the sin bin and ’Stoke missed a penalty chance.

The home side extended their lead after 17 minutes, as Ed Pascoe scored after a line-out and Duncombe added the extras.

The boot of Duncombe with a penalty and a try from Chris Thompson made it 20-0 four minutes before half-time.

’Stoke hit back and broke away to score a try and then went over in the corner which was converted to make it 20-12 at half-time.

The home side lost hooker Mark Jones to yellow card nine minutes after the break, but it did not stop them extending their lead thanks to a Ben Madigan try.

Then on the 70 minute mark, full-back Alex Heron scored which Wayne Dugan converted to make it 32-12.

The visitors had the better of the end of the game as they twice went over for scores.

The second one being the bonus point try and as they only lost by six points, they also picked up the losing bonus point as well.

This weekend, ’Stoke take a break from league action and travel to Havant for a Hampshire Cup semi-final clash on Saturday.