A CROWD of more than 400 helped make the 2009 Sparstoke Cup event a resounding success.

The annual match between Basingstoke Academy and Sparsholt College, played in memory of former ’Stoke colt Tom Aslett, took place at Down Grange last month.

Basingstoke’s youngsters won 15-8 to retain the cup but the real winner was the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Charity, which is set to benefit to the tune of several thousands of pounds.

Richard Aslett, Tom’s father, is the driving force behind the event and was delighted to state that it had been a success.

“It was a very good night,” he said. “I really enjoyed it and I think everyone else did as well.

“It was going to be tough to match last year but people are saying it might have been even better and there’s a really good momentum about the event now.

“The weather was kind to us because it was the only night that week where we did not get rain and I think there might have been more people there than there were last year.

“There were certainly somewhere between 400 and 500 there, which we are delighted with, and people came from as far as Cornwall to be there.”

Aslett, who was just 20, died in July 2007 when the tractor he was driving overturned.

Due to his love of rugby, his family and friends came up with the idea of playing an annual match in his memory.

Basingstoke, the club he joined as a six-year-old, and Sparsholt College, where he trained for a career in agriculture, were the obvious choices to field teams. Both quickly accepted the invitation and the Sparstoke Cup was born.

“I am sure Tom would have enjoyed it and it’s a nice way for everyone who knew him to come together,” Mr Aslett added. “There were lots of people there who I had not seen in a while and it was just a good evening.”

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Charity was chosen to benefit because of their efforts to help Aslett after his accident.

The grand total is not yet known but Mr Aslett is hoping to match the amount raised last year – a mammoth £6,700.

“I have not worked out the final total yet and there are still a couple of shirts we have for auction but it was a good collection,” he said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself but we are still aiming for last year’s total.”

This year was the third time that the cup has been contested, with the Academy and the College battling it out over two 30 minute halves.

Sparsholt led with an early try before the teams exchanged penalties, Ryan Travaskis scoring for ’Stoke. That made it 8-3 to the visitors, but Basingstoke were level before half-time, full-back Martin Jones going over after a period of sustained pressure.

’Stoke dominated the second half but were only able to add one further try, winger Richard Kiernan touching down for a score that was converted by Travaskis to make the final tally 15-8 in favour of the home side.

“It was a very good game and probably the best we have had so far,” Mr Aslett said. “It was very well contested.”

After that, people who played with Aslett, both at Basingstoke and Sparsholt, contested a 20-minute friendly. Basingstoke won by four tries to two, with first team players Tim Richards, Dan Rees, Jamie Fish, George Scott, Paul Morris and Mike Goodall all taking part.

The action on the pitch was followed by entertainment off of it, with a show put on in the clubhouse by ORA Productions and featuring local band Frottage.

There was also a raffle, with more than 10 prizes including rugby shirts, fleeces and bottles of wine.

The event has become a fixture on the club’s calendar and Mr Aslett is keen for it to be equally successful next year.

“We just need a break for a couple of months and then I will be thinking about the next event,” he said. “As long as so many people support it, I’ll keep it going.”