Penryn 17pts, Basingstoke 45

BASINGSTOKE maintained their push for promotion back to rugby's national divisions with a commanding win in Cornwall on Saturday.

While Clifton were being knocked off the top of the South-West one table with a home defeat by Chinnor, Basingstoke were able to close to within a point of the three teams locked together at the top on 24 points.

The mixed fortunes of two of the title contenders will add extra spice to Clifton's visit to Down Grange a week on Saturday.

Another two points for 'Stoke rewarded their decision to make a three-day trip to struggling Penryn. In a howling and cold wind, the visitors won the toss and chose to play uphill into the wind.

The opening 20 minutes saw the two teams deadlocked but the decision to play into the wind seemed to be paying off when Simon Buckland crossed the line to finish off an overlap created by a series of drives from the 'Stoke forwards.

'Stoke's five-point lead was quickly cancelled out as Penryn used the wind to pin them in their 22 and the pressure was rewarded with a try. The weather aided the conversion, allowing Penryn to take a two-point lead.

That lead was soon extended to 10-5 on 27 minutes after poor discipline by 'Stoke gave away a penalty shot from the 10-metre line.

A further 10 minutes passed without addition to the score as both sides made errors due to the weather, particularly the visitors when in attack.

'Stoke finally started to look the better side and launched many promising counter-attacks from their own 22.

On 34 minutes, Ollie Rogers broke from 50 metres out to level the scores, after good play by Dave Lambert. It was Rogers' sixth try in four matches.

'Stoke were now starting to dominate play and created many chances. But it was the 40th minute before they nosed in front with a Simon Humberstone penalty for a half-time score of 13-10.

The second half saw 'Stoke playing with the elements in their favour. They made immediate use of the weather with easy territory gained from a big Humberstone boot, which saw 'Stoke take an eight-point lead through a Lambert try created from yet more good forward work.

Humberstone soon advanced the lead with his second penalty of the match.

Five minutes later, the visitors increased their lead with a second try from Buckland. Humberstone added the conversion to take the score to 28-10.

'Stoke were soon into the 30s with a second try from Lambert on 65 minutes, converted by Humberstone to open a 35-10 margin.

In the 70th minute, Penryn salvaged some hope with an unconverted try, only for first Russell Northcote and then player-coach Jim Dixon to hit straight back with two tries.

Northcote's touchdown came from a charge-down, and then a sprint to the line from the 22 allowed Dixon the second try, coming from a well-rehearsed lineout move.

Although 'Stoke were not at their best, and did not play as much fluent rugby as they are capable of, they were always the better side. Unforced errors often meant that potential points were not always seized from the efforts and dominance created.

Dixon said afterwards: "Another two points and job done but we still need to dominate and turn pressure into points.

"As always, it was good to have many supporters make the long journey and be rewarded with a style of play that is both positive and attractive to watch.

"This is what the players work at on training nights and are producing on match days."

Basingstoke: S Humberstone; D Lambert, S Buckland, M Lucas O Rogers; C Marshall (rep D Lilywhite); J Fish; S Murphy, S Lovegrove (rep M Bushnell), P Perkins, R Northcote, R Stirling (rep A Hopkins), C Williams, S Appleby, J Dixon.

First published: Monday, January 30, 2006