AN INSPIRED Basingstoke display earned the side a win in the latest round of Counties 1 Hampshire, beating Sandown and Shanklin 32-43 away from home and exorcising the demons of last year's dismantling at the hands of the Island side.

Rhys Buchan, Sean McDermott, Paddy Gilbert, Callum Anderson, Luke Wareham and Riley Darragh all scored for the visitors, while Alfie Rowley added 13 points from the boot.

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On a short pitch with a significant slope from the far left corner, the initial game plan was clear - minimise pressure, play the territory game and stay as far up the pitch as possible. After a tough opening few minutes under their own posts, Basingstoke forced a knock on from the home side, relieving pressure and progressing play into Sandown and Shanklin's half. Some huge hits typified the opening stanza, with Luke Wareham and Sean McDermott in particular sending opposing players backwards.

A Brad Titcombe clearance kick brought about some much needed territory in the opposition 22, which also brought about the visitors' first score. A strong defensive line from Basingstoke gave Sandown nowhere to go, and the ball was turned over in the midfield. Some effective handling saw the ball reach debutant speedster Rhys Buchan on the wing, who turned on the afterburners and dived over in the corner. Alfie Rowley slotted from way out wide to make the score 7-0.

A second 'Stoke try was scored minutes later, with another Rowley kick sending the home defence backwards. Sandown returned the favour, where Oscar Rowley fielded the ball and evaded two oncoming defenders, before a sumptuous lifted ball - which will please coach Simon Appleby to no end - to Sean McDermott just outside the 22 saw the centre turn back the years and run the distance. Captain Alfie again converted from way out wide, this time from the opposite flank, extending the lead to 14.

Sandown, who up to this point in the season had a perfect playing record, came back with a vengeance. The home side showed why they are one of the sides to beat this season, with heavy forward carries and lethal speed out wide proving to be a dangerous combination. Their forwards worked their way up the pitch, before the backline exploited an overlap and showed searing pace to earn the next score. The extras were duly converted, cutting the lead back down to 7.

'Stoke kept the pressure on the Islanders, with the expertly-managed territory game from Alfie Rowley meaning much of the game was being played in the Sandown half. Basingstoke won a penalty just inside the Sandown 22 where Soa Crawford-Falekaono took a quick tap penalty, went into contact but crucially stayed upright and gave the offload to Paddy Gilbert. With work to do, the big lock broke through two attempted Sandown tackles, before taking two players over the line with him to earn his first try in Basingstoke colours, well over a year after joining the club. Rowley again converted to take the lead back to 14.

Nearing the end of the half, Sandown earned another score of their own with some good interlinking between the backline, before Alfie Rowley made the wise decision of going for the three points off a penalty to provide Basingstoke with more of a buffer at the half time whistle, leaving the score at 24-12.

Sandown had been unbeaten at home for well over a season, and Basingstoke knew they would be out for revenge in the second half. The next score would be crucial, and fortunately for the visitors it went their way.

Basingstoke had a line out just inside Sandown's half, which was successfully taken. A maul was set up which went forward at a rate of knots to enter the home side's 22, before tight head Callum Anderson peeled off and made further ground. He linked with scrum half Drew Paterson who was brought down agonisingly close to the try line, before Anderson picked up from the breakdown for his third score in two games.

From the kick off Sandown converted a penalty of their own to bring the score back to 31-15, before another five pointer which came from a few Basingstoke errors brought the deficit back to 11. A kick off was short of the required 10 metres, an error which was compounded by Sandown's second row claiming the ball and the visitors' forwards leaving him to break the line unopposed. Brad Titcombe - an increasingly dependable rock at 15 for the side - stopped him in his tracks, but the Basingstoke defence was always on the back foot and Sandown worked their way over.

Sandown were in the ascendancy, having the majority of the ball and territory in the second half. 'Stoke held firm in their own red zone for long periods, but the game was very much on when the home side scored next off a 5 metre attacking scrum. With the score now at 31-27, both sides felt they had the win in their grasp, which led to a pulsating final quarter.

Basingstoke had to go back to what went well in the first half - spending time up the field, putting pressure on the opposition and forcing errors. This earned the side a penalty in the opposition's 22, which was quickly taken by Gilbert. He trundled up the pitch and got the side within five metres, before the forwards worked the phases and Luke Wareham carved a hard line through the heart of the defence to score his first of the season. Rowley again converted, extending the lead to 11.

Seeking a comeback win, Sandown attacked and forced Basingstoke to spend the remaining 10 minutes in their own 22. Basingstoke dug deep and held firm for as long as they could, before Sandown finally spread the ball wide to their winger, who had been a massive threat throughout and scored once again. The conversion was missed, and Sandown were within six. With 90 seconds to go and a home crowd valiantly cheering the side on, it looked set for an incredibly tense finale.

Big moments, however, call for big players. Alfie's inch perfect restart was caught by brother Oscar on the required 10 metre line and he took full advantage of the Island side contesting the decision, getting Basingstoke to within five metres of the opposition line. From there, Riley Darragh added some gloss to the score sheet and became the third Basingstoke player to score their first senior try for the club. The conversion was missed - Alfie's first of the day - but time had elapsed by the time he had taken the conversion, and the referee blew for full time.

Next up for the side is another tough away fixture to Trojans, at 3:00 on October 19.