FORDINGBRIDGE RFC suffered their first defeat of the season away to fellow high flyers Basingstoke going down 59-29.

This was their first ever visit to the north Hampshire side and the home side who sprinted into an early lead scoring a penalty try and three further unanswered tries, converting two of them to put them 26 -0 up in as many minutes.

At this point it looked as though a cricket score may be on the cards.

Finally, Fordingbridge started to settle into the game and their man of the match Tom Tulley managed a break away score to start the ball rolling for the visitors.

This was immediately followed by a fine try from captain for the day Peter Scott and with Mark Hammond adding the extras the game was coming alive.

However, as the half reached its conclusion Basingstoke scored another converted try, but there was just enough time before the whistle for Ryan Hill to score for Fordingbridge to keep them in touch at the half with the score at 33-17.

The visitors really started to worry the home crowd with a well worked try just into the second half when Joe Weld touched down.

The conversion was narrowly missed but the game was now a much more even affair.

Basingstoke scored within five minutes to once again stretch their lead to 40-22.

A quick penalty taken by the home side caught Fordingbridge unawares as they ran in unopposed under the posts.

Scott ran in his second of the afternoon and with Hammond adding the extra two.

Basingstoke rounded off the match with two further tries one of which they converted to finish the match worthy winners at 59-29.

With severe problems of unavailability at the club this weekend, Ed Douglass commented in the huddle that it had been a very spirited and determined performance from a team of players who were not used to playing with each other.

The second XV travelled to the Isle of Wight to play Ventnor with very depleted numbers travelling with only 12 players and still came away winners 46-0.