’Stoke snatch victory

TO the delight of their players and supporters, Basingstoke pulled off a thrilling last-gasp success over Maidenhead to snatch victory and prove the character within the side.

All those at Down Grange on Saturday were treated to a super spectacle between two well-matched sides - but it was Jim Dixon's men who narrowly came out on top after it seemed they had contrived to lose a game they were comfortably on top of.

Having led 20-8 midway through the first half, 'Stoke got pegged back to 20-all and trailed 27-30 with only two minutes left on the clock.

But 'Stoke refused to lie down and when Simon Appleby broke from a scrum to intercept a loose pass and charge 20 metres beyond a static, stretched Maidenhead, the roars were deafening as excitement levels grew.

Electing to run towards the left-wing from his central position, the open-side flanker found support before he was tackled from new centre Andrew Patrick, who continued the attack at pace.

And when he off-loaded to winger Karl Buttle (pictured right), the teenager evaded the challenge of his opposing number to score.

Mike Goodall duly converted with the last kick of the game to secure 'Stoke's triumph against a side they failed to beat last season.

The feeling of euphoria that swept the ground on the final whistle was tangible.

Delighted 'Stoke director of rugby Dixon said: "It was a tough game between two very even teams who play similar styles of rugby.

"I have told the boys how much they can take from that finish as a team. We played positive rugby right to the last minute.

"When we keep our heads, we're capable of scoring tries and I felt all three of the guys involved in the last try showed fantastic composure."

Last season, in the corresponding fixture, Down Grange hosted a rare 15-15 tie - and the script was set to run along similar lines this time, when Rob Hawkins' early penalty was cancelled out by Goodall within a minute.

Maidenhead went ahead 8-3 through strong wing Stuart Mackay, who plundered his way past two missed tackles from Myles Rutherford and Simon Buckland to score.

But the 'Stoke pack, particularly the front row - where Neil Young had his best game since returning from Reading and forced the replacement of his opposing number, ex-'Stoke man Ash Riley - started to impose themselves.

They won numerous scrums against the head and, on 14 minutes, 'Stoke put together several phases of play where there was sufficient support on each near-breakdown to see the ball pass between seven hands and Rutherford to juggle before crossing over. Goodall converted to make it 10-8.

Dave Lambert ran nearly the full length of the pitch to score 'Stoke's second try, again converted by Goodall, after he was fed by man-of-the-match Caan Childs.

Goodall's penalty on 27 minutes put 'Stoke 20-8 up, but a lack of concentration just before the interval saw Maidenhead's inside-centre Simon Cripps break through three tacklers and lay off to Mackay, who once more scored in the corner.

Hawkins missed the conversion attempt, but Maidenhead dominated the early second-half exchanges and drew level straight from the restart after more lapse defending gave outside-centre Jonny Hammond a try.

A stalemate of 25 minutes play duly followed and another draw appeared likely until Cripps scored on 67 minutes after more loose defence from the 'Stoke backs.

'Stoke then hit back with a 73rd-minute try from Andrew Rowlands, who scampered over after a period of sustained forwards' pressure. Goodall converted to make it 27-25.

But the full-back's boots failed him two minutes later when, attempting to cover Maidenhead's Dave Johnston's chip and charge down the left wing, he slipped as he was poised to collect.

Instead, Johnston was able to claim the ball and score the try - which was not converted - that Maidenhead thought had secured victory.

But they had not reckoned on 'Stoke's resilience - and were left shell-shocked when Buttle clinched the two points with his late score.

'Stoke: Mike Goodall; Dave Lambert, Simon Buckland, Myles Rutherford, Karl Buttle; Matt Lucas (rep Andrew Patrick 70 mins), Darren Lillywhite; Neil Young, Andrew Rowlands, Shane Murphy; Ross Stirling, Russell Northcote (rep Chris Williams 70 mins); Tom Northcote, Simon Appleby, Caan Childs. Not used: Matt Oliver.