Basingstoke Met Clevedon in round 4 of the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup with a quarter-final spot as the prize. Basingstoke played into the strong wind in the first half and withstood some early pressure from the visitors, great defence keeping them out.  So it was on 28 minutes that the scoring was opened with a Mike Goodall penalty and 3-0 Basingstoke. Clevedon continued to press and with the wind spent long periods in the Basingstoke 22.  This pressure eventually told and the visitors scored a converted try on 37 minutes.  So taking us in to half-time with the score at 3-7.  A promising position for Basingstoke given the strong wind.

We thought for a while though that the gods were against us as the wind seemed to die as the second-half started.  But within 2 minutes Mike Goodall reduced the deficit with his second penalty and the score was now 6-7.  As is the way so often Basingstoke then almost immediately gave away a penalty and Clevedon were up to 6-10.  A further penalty on 58 minutes took them further away at 6-13 and then local supporters started to doubt. 67 minutes gone and Nick Cooper was yellow carded and we all feared the worst.  However this seemed to be the spur the home side needed and they took the game back to the visitors.  On 75 minutes with most of the supporters shouting for the side to run a penalty skipper Neil Young elected for a kick and goal and Mike Goodall came up trumps 9-13.  Basingstoke continued to pile on the pressure up front and on 83 minutes Jim Dixon behind a forwards drive touched down over the visitors line taking the score to 14-13.  But with 2 minutes still to play it was nail biting time for all.  A knock on from the kick-off gave Clevedon a scrum just outside the Basingstoke 22, but a strong drive from the home pack saw turnover ball and from the ensuing scrum a couple of pick and drives brought the clock down on a narrow victory for Basingstoke and a final score of:

Basingstoke 14 Clevedon 13

Team: Neil Young (C), Jamie Folan (58mins Gelenike Hawea), Matt Oliver, Ross Stirling(78 Robbie Holmes), Nick Cooper, Chris Williams(47 George Scott),Simon Appleby, Robbie Northcote (68 Jim Dixon), Mickey Jacob, Neil Barton, Karl Buttle, Tim Richards, Simon Buckland, Glen Lewis, Mike Goodall