With lovely sunny weather, hopes were high for Basingstoke to kick start the season and pick up the winning habit.  Problem was no one had given the script to Civil Service.  The game started brightly enough for Basingstoke and they created some good field positions and looked to be gaining the ascendancy.  Then on 11 minutes with pretty much their first foray into the home sides 22 Civil Service struck as their strong running No 8 drove over for a try. The visitors tails were now up and they pressed again, gaining a penalty on 22 minutes to extend the lead. They then had a spell of scoring with a further penalty on 29 minutes followed by tries on 33 and 36 minutes.  The latter being converted and giving them a lead of 23-0.  Basingstoke had the solace of a try by Simon Appleby following an interception by Simon Buckland closing the half out at 5-23.

The second half and Basingstoke upped their game and on 49 minutes Simon Appleby touched down for his second try converted by Stuart O’Flanagan bringing the score to 12-23.  Although the home side worked hard they were still being bested at the contact area and in open play.  So it was on 60 minutes that Civil Service made the game safe with a converted try and a lead of 12-30.  A horrific day was then made worse as Nick Cooper was shown a red card for illegal use of the boot and the game slipped away to full time and a final score of:

Basingstoke 12 Civil Service 30

Team: Neil Young (C)(76 R.Northcote), Jim Dixon, Richard Matthews, George Scott, Nick Cooper, Chris Williams, Simon Appleby, Luke Richardson (64 Joe Goodman), Darren Lillywhite, Stuart O’Flanagan, Karl Buttle, Robbie Northcote (42 Jules Alfrey), Simon Buckland, Tim Richards, Mike Goodall, Sub not used Glen Lewis.