Having lost the opening league game of the season at  Shelford 28-16. It was good to see the side bounce back and win a tight home game against Barnes 23-16.  It took 40 minutes to break the stalemate as Ross Stirling scored the opening try for Stoke, converted by man of the match Mike Goodall.  The visitors replied with a penalty and so 1/2 time it was 7-3 Basingstoke.  With the wind and sun behind them in the second half Basingstoke started to take a grip on the game and two penalties saw the lead stretched to 13-3. We then had a period with Barnes posting a penalty and Stoke replying making the score 16-6. The tone of the game changes with 15 minutes to go when Stoke opted to kick for the corner on a penalty rather than take the points.  Barnes broke out and shortly thereafter scored the first of two tries which brought the scores level at 16 all.  Fortunately this lit the home side fires and they worked into the Barnes half.  A kick and chase through by winger Karl Buttle led to a penalty try when he was pulled back without the ball as he was heading in to score the touch-down.  Mike Goodall converted and the game ended 23-16 to Basingstoke

Team: D.Lambert, G.Lewis, M.Goodall, G.Jones, K.Buttle, D.Fenn, C.Jackson, N.Young (C), G.Hawea, M.Oliver (sub 70mins J.Folan), G.Scott, N.Cooper, R.Stirling, S.Appleby, C.White (Sub 50 mins T.Northcote), Replacement not used M.Dramby.