BASINGSTOKE RFC's poor start to the London Two South West season continued on Saturday.

Stoke went down 33-7 away at Effingham and Leatherhead, meaning they have failed to take a single point from any of their three opening games.

A five-point deduction has also been carried over from last season, meaning that they are already seven points adrift at the bottom of the table.

Basingstoke return to Down Grange this weekend, hosting 10th-placed Warlingham, who have lost two of their first three games and went down 35-3 at home to London Cornish on Saturday.