Cheshunt 16pts, Basingstoke 16

BASINGSTOKE were lucky to come home with a point from their opening league fixture after another sub-standard performance on Saturday, writes Peter Phipps.

Just as in their Senior Cup defeat at Marlow the previous week, they struggled in the scrums and lineouts and also suffered a number of turnovers.

Player-coach Ian Calder admits he has plenty to work on before the re-arranged London division one fixture at home to Cambridge next Saturday.

"We took an away point. You've got to get a positive from it," he said afterwards.

He put the blame squarely on the front five forwards for the dismal first phase possession but the backs didn't escape his criticism.

"We've got to be a bit more ruthless in the opposition 22," he said.

In the first half, Cheshunt dominated territory and possession but turned round with only an 8-6 lead.

Centre Owen Edwards scored all Cheshunt's points and had the chance to seal victory with the last kick of the match. But his conversion attempt in front of the posts was charged down by Basingstoke debutant Chris Norton. It was Edwards' fifth kicking miss in seven attempts at goal during the afternoon.

Calder capitalised on two offside decisions to give Basingstoke a 6-0 lead inside seven minutes but for the remainder of the half they were forced to defend.

Edwards squeezed over in the corner after 13 minutes from a five metre scrum and then increased the lead with a penalty in stoppage time which was the last kick of the half.

Calder regained the lead four minutes after the turnaround after Cheshunt were penalised for not retreating at a tapped penalty under their posts.

Before Edwards swung things back Cheshunt's way with a 64th minute penalty, Basingstoke had already fluffed the first of three golden opportunities with a lineout just off the home line.

Two more lineouts in a similar position brought the same blank outcome.

Calder, Basingstoke's outstanding player, had the chance to regain the lead once again with a 40-metre penalty after 78 minutes but he had his lone miss of the afternoon and Cheshunt held on to their 11-9 lead.

Calder caught the re-start kick and launched Gareth Jones down the outside. He was over the home line before the home touch judge raised his flag for a foot in touch.

On the stroke of 80 minutes, Scott Taylor, operating from centre after some second-half line-up changes, eluded the home cover to run in from the 22. Calder added the conversion for a 16-11 lead.

Cheshunt then rallied for one final effort in stoppage time and, after forcing Basingstoke to concede a couple of penalties, Edwards ran in from outside the 22 to put the scores level.

Norton's foresight in charging down the conversion attempt spared Basingstoke from defeat by top-of the-table Cheshunt, one of only two sides to have played two matches.

Cheshunt: E Morton; G Gallimore, G Reichers, O Edwards, D McDonnell (rep S Donnelly 40min); A Clements, P Crispin; D Baker, G Crispin, N Cason, J James (rep P Horton 51min), J Mills (rep N Goodman 47min), M Dichiara, L Powell, A Smith. Basingstoke: M Dangerfield; R Joseph (rep P Hancock 65min),G Jones, N Taylor, C Norton; I Calder, S Taylor; N Young, M Bushnell (rep S Appleby 65min), J Wanoa (rep S Buttle 51min), N Hooker, A Hopkins, S Lovegrove, R Baker, P Della-Savina.