BASINGSTOKE RFC Academy recorded a 25-5 victory in their must-win Hampshire Cup tie at Gosport and Fareham.

The home side scored first with a try, but Stoke remained firm on their game plan, showing solid structure and shape.

A particular highlight was hooker Tommy Parker, who bossed the scrum and threw 11 out 12 line-outs straight, despite a force five gale.

The visitors pressure finally resulted in a score for winger Ed King, who capitalised on some great work from fly half Joe Campbell to go over in the corner to make it 5-5 at half-time.

Just five minutes after interval, Campbell fed Callum Donnelly, who in turn passed to Gabe Glynn, running a superb hard line, Glynn crashed through the Gosport defence.

A few minutes later, constant pressure from the Stoke forwards saw a series of drives force Gosport into conceding a penalty, which was duly slotted over by Campbell.

A fine move saw Dan Mairs power over the line from 40 metres out, and Campbell slotted over the conversion. Stoke closed out the game in complete control, breaking the gain line at will and it was further pressure which released Mairs for his second try of the game.

This was after some superb running from full back Leon Williams, drew in Gosport defence before releasing Mairs out on the wing.

After a great team performance, Stoke forwards coach Mark Rushworth said: “A great team performance today, we held our shape, our structure and earned the right to play our style of rugby, in very difficult conditions.

"Our set piece was exceptional today, and our forwards provided a great platform for the backs to go on and score the points with, a great result in the Cup and bring on Havant next week.”