BASINGSTOKE RFC put up a brave fight, but lost to London One South high flyers Sutton and Epsom 62-12 in their final outing at Down Grange this season.

The visitors were quickly out of the blocks with an opening try from Andy Nichols after three minutes.

However, the winger did not seem to ground the ball after he chased down his own kick, but despite the home players protests the try was given.

On the five minute mark, Sutton struck again as Kyren Ghumra scored after a nice break down the left was halted, but the ball was thrown along the line to the other wing.

Sutton continued to have the better of the opening and were awarded a penalty try after a number of scrums were collapsed in the eyes of referee Richard James.

It was third time lucky for kicker Sam Hurley as he added the conversion for a 17-0 lead.

With a strong wind against them the home side they found it hard to kick the ball any distance down the field.

The side’s plight was then not helped when front row Sam Turner received a yellow card after a scrum.

Soon after, Sutton scored their fourth try of the game from Matt Whitaker after a rolling maul.

The home side then looked set to open their account when they were awarded a penalty on the 22 metre line.

However, such is the Basingstoke’s luck at the moment, Kyle Bruce’s kick hit the post and his team mate Warren Simmonds just missed out on catching the ball.

Instead, Sutton broke away and scored the final try of the half from Ghumra.

Hurley’s conversion kick failed to go over even if it did hit the post and then crossbar so Sutton had to settle for a 29-0 lead at half-time.

The visitors looked set to add to their tally soon after the break as the ball was thrown along the backs, but Ian Knott then dropped the ball and knocked it on.

From the scrum Sutton won the ball and George London scored a converted try.

Now with the wind advantage ’Stoke started to get a foot hold in the game and Sutton fly half Frankie Murray did well to put a long kick down field into touch.

The home side piled on the pressure and David Byett looked to have scored as he put the ball down over the try line, but the referee decided to award a scrum instead.

However, the home side were not to be denied and Tom Tully broke a tackle after a number of phrases and scored after 52 minutes. Bruce added the extras to make it 36-7.

Basingstoke attacked again and a nice break from Dan Williams saw him off load to David Greenaway, but he was stopped at the five metre line.

Sutton replied and Joe Ridgley dodged a couple of tackles and scored a converted try and then a minute later Craig Bellringer made the most of an overlap as his side added another seven points to their tally.

The next try was scored by the home side as Byett found Will Jenkins and Tully went over again near the corner.

From wide out on the touchline Williams failed with a conversion to made it 50-12.

Sutton replied and a good team move saw Tariq Al Khaldi score under the posts and then a nice break out saw Hurley scored, but he was unable to convert his own try with the final kick of the game.

’Stoke now have a week off before they travel to league leaders Wimbledon in their penultimate game of their league campaign.