'Stoke power to derby win (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Humberstone is at the double as 'Stoke hammer Hampshire rivals

1:00pm Monday 16th January 2012 in Rugby By Martyn Humberstone

ANDREW Humberstone bagged a brace of tries in a match haul of 26 points as Basingstoke RFC continued their excellent start to 2012.

’Stoke brushed Hampshire rivals Portsmouth aside with ease at Down Grange on Saturday, winning 46-6 to make it two bonus point victories out of two so far this year, writes Martyn Humberstone.

After a slow start, Jamie Fish and Ash Paterson scored tries before the end of the first half to give hosts Basingstoke a 15-6 lead at the break.

Humberstone’s first try of the afternoon extended the lead shortly after the change of ends, while ’Stoke were simply brilliant in the final quarter, blowing their opponents away with three further scores.

Fly-half Humberstone got the crucial fourth try, earning the hosts a bonus point, before Paterson scored his second of the afternoon, and second row Steve Drawbridge went over late on to complete the scoring.

Basingstoke head coach James Croker was delighted with the way his side put Portsmouth to the sword.

“That was a very impressive second-half performance, where we actually went about finishing our opponents off,” he said.

“In the first half, we were a bit |ponderous and did not put together any real patterns or phases. In the second, we were clinical in taking our scoring opportunities and a lot more accurate with our passing and offloads.

“The spine of the team did well and this enabled others to play off them. The whole team played some impressive rugby.”

Despite the win, Basingstoke remain fourth in the London One South table as all of the sides above them also recorded bonus point victories. However, the gap between ’Stoke and fifth-placed Sidcup is now six points, while they are just two points behind Guernsey, who sit second.

See The Monday Gazette for a full report.