Basingstoke 33pts, Cambridge 50

IN A much-improved performance, FX-backed Basingstoke took the game to the visitors from the start and led until the final minute of the first half.

The first move of the game saw Sebastian Berti's jinking run set up the home forwards to recycle the ball. Calder put in a cross-field kick, only for the ball to be dropped on the Cambridge line by the 'Stoke wing.

This set the tone for the early play and, on seven minutes, Simon Appleby opened the scoring and Calder converted for a 7-0 lead.

Calder had his kicking boots on and soon increased the gap to 10 points with a penalty.

Cambridge replied with a converted try, but Calder then slotted over two more penalties for a 16-7 lead.

Cambridge came back with another converted try before Calder kicked another three points for a 19-14 lead.

In injury time, 'Stoke were penalised for not releasing in the visitors' 22. Cambridge took a quick penalty and moved swiftly into the home 22, where Calder was adjudged to have pulled back a Cambridge player as he kicked the ball. The ref awarded a penalty try, which was converted to give Cambridge a 21-19 lead at half-time.

Due to some poor positional play and loose kicking, the second half was not so rewarding for 'Stoke. On 48 minutes, Cambridge scored a converted try and repeated this five minutes later to open a 35-19 lead.

Not to be outclassed, 'Stoke forced their way into the visitors' 22 and were awarded a penalty try of their own from a driving maul at a lineout.

The home side continued to be competitive but were denied scores when they gave away the ball when in possession.

Further points for the visitors came with a penalty and two tries, one converted, to lead 50-26 with 10 minutes to go.

'Stoke's cause was not helped when Calder was yellow-carded for not rolling away when saving a try.

The home side showed they were not going to lie down easily, however, and responded in great style to finish the match with a Vincent Feausi try, converted by Calder.

It was the second time this season that 'Stoke have scored more than 30 points and finished losers.

Their main problem was a lack of quality ball from the lineouts but, with Berti putting the ball in front of the forwards and good defence from the first phase, they were often equal to their opponents and at times better.

The rucking and mauling were good and the loose forwards did well around the park with Appleby deserving his man-of-the-match award.

Head coach Jim Dixon said afterwards: "That was much better and set a springboard for the next few weeks.

"We have to repeat that level of commitment over our next few games and start to move up the league. We showed in the first half how we can play, but we must show a bit more concentration at crucial times."

Basingstoke: M Lucas; O Rogers, S Buckland, V Feausi (rep D Lilleywhite), C White; I Calder, S Berti; R Bussati, M Bushnell, P Perkins, A Wilson, C Hampson, R Northcote ( rep D Rees), S Appleby, J Dixon. Rep not used: M Rushworth.