Every game for Civil Service is crucial preparations had been good with excellent spirit and intent for the game ahead. The weather was perfect for a good running game at Basingstoke, which has to rate as one of the best facilities in London 1. The game began with Civil Service keeping the ball well and pounding Basingstoke making steady progress rewarded when Sevi Faleono burst through the defence for a good first try 0-5. Civil Service continued to scrap for every ball in this opening phase a little too keenly and slipped into the ‘give penalties away mode’ all be it briefly but Basingstoke were unable to make the most of it with Civil Service returning the play with interest resulting in a penalty for Civil Service converted confidently by 10 Matt Easton 0-8. Continuing in that vein Civil Service kept up the forward pressure resulting in Basingstoke giving another penalty for Matt Easton to convert 0-11. Civil Service were dominating the game at this point and with some good interplay 15 Brendon Robinson scored out wide 0-16. Basingstoke did not seem to have any answers at this point and with Civil Service moving the ball well 12 Adrian Dench cut the line to score by the posts converted by Matt Easton 0-23. At this point Civil Second row 4 Richard Wilkie left the field with an injured shoulder and while the team rebalanced with the change Basingstoke saw an opportunity for a kick and chase gathering the ball and sprinting for the line just caught by 11 Kobe Yeboah 2 metres short, superb effort but Basingstoke had followed up picked up the ball and scored while the players struggled on the ground 5 -23 on the half time whistle.
The second half started with Basingstoke playing a much better game taking the game to Civil Service and playing at a different pace and making Civil Service look a little unsure and with that promptly scored a good try and conversion 12- 23. Basingstoke continued to play a stronger game and spent time in the Civil Service 22 but the Civil Service defence held well and Basingstoke’s efforts went unrewarded. Basingstoke made a clearing kick from their 22 to the Civil Service 22 with 14 Tom Sumner fielding the ball made a scything run through the field with a good off load leading to a try for 15 Brendon Robinson and conversion 12 -30. That was probably enough for Basingstoke as the play got scrappier and stop start as the referee had to use his whistle finally leading to a straight red for Basingstoke 5 for use of the boot in what had been a competitive but clean game. As the game petered out Civil also received a yellow card but by that stage the game was over, a good win for Civil Service no doubt, Portsmouth at home now the next challenge, Civil Service will need to perform at their best.
Congratulations to the Second team for another good win this time against Rosslyn Park away 21- 13.
PT