'Stoke 21 Hertford 13

This game was a real physical and bruising encounter, especially in the final 20 minutes of the game, after ’Stoke took a comfortable lead.

The home side opened the scoring on four minutes, as fly-half Andy Barnes kicked over a penalty.

David Byett then scored ’Stoke’s first try six minutes later, to extend the lead to 8-0.

The visitors replied with their own score from Dan Belton, but Barnes kicked another penalty to make it 11-5 at the break.

However, fly half Barnes who was returning from injury, suffered suspected broken ribs, after a late tackle which saw him depart before half-time.

This saw Basingstoke forced to re-shuffle their line-up, as Jamie Fish moved to fly-half and Gavin Dampies took over at scrum half, but the home side still led 11-5 at the break

Hertford’s Jack Mann kicked over a penalty for the first points of the second-half with a penalty, but the home side hit back with two tries.

Freddie Gleadowe was the first to go over on 67 minutes and soon after Dampies also scored to make the score 21-8.

In the final few minutes of the contest, Hertford reduced the lead as second row Craig South scored the visitors’ second try of the afternoon.

’Stoke have no game next week, but are back in action a week on Saturday when they travel to Barking.