DAVID Byett was the Basingstoke RFC hero after scoring a late try against Hove to earn his side the bonus point that keeps them in contention for promotion.

The powerful centre, pictured, spent the first half of this season sidelined by a knee injury but crashed over from close range in the final minutes of Saturday’s game in Sussex to score ’Stoke’s fourth try of the day in a 34-15 victory.

Basingstoke remain fourth in the London One South table but the gap between them and second-placed Old Elthamians, who beat Chichester 34-12 to move into the play-off position, stands at six points.

There are only four games left but more twists and turns are expected as third-placed Chichester still have to play leaders Guernsey, while ’Stoke will be hoping to climb the table by beating promotion rivals Old Elthamians and Guernsey.

Basingstoke got off to the perfect start in Hove on Saturday, Andrew Humberstone giving them the lead with a try after just two minutes, while Freddie Gleadowe touched down twice to make the score 24-15 at half-time.

’Stoke dominated the second half and while they were unable to get the crucial fourth try until Byett’s intervention, head coach James Croker was delighted with the way his side played.

“The win was our priority, as this is a difficult place to come to, so to get a bonus point shows how good a team performance that was,” he said. “An improvement in our discipline and accuracy, things that we have been working on for a while, were what gave us the platform though.”

See The Monday Gazette for a full report.