Bognor were left heartbroken at the end of their first league match of the season as Basingstoke snatched victory from the jaws of defeat just two minutes from the end of a pulsating contest. Having extended their lead to six points with ten minutes to go, the home team seemed to be in control and heading for a winning start but an uncharacteristic mistake in defence meant that it was the visitors who were celebrating at the final whistle.

Basingstoke began the match strongly and spurned two early, kickable penalties, choosing instead to send their big runners deep into the heart of the home defence. Bognor responded with some big hits to stop their opponents in their tracks, eventually winning a turnover to clear their line.

A solid scrum allowed Jamie Foote some room off the back and the big No.8 made impressive yards before feeding Josh Turner. The winger was stopped short of the line but Bognor grew in confidence after offering their first attacking threat of the match.

Unfortunately they were thrown out of their stride when they lost centre Chris Hay to a leg injury after just ten minutes and had to reorganise their back line.

Ollie Mitchell flew off on one of his characteristic line breaks and, encouraged by his father’s technical advice from the touchline, he almost reached the posts. His reward was a penalty against Basingstoke for killing the ball and Kurtis Dent stroked it over to give Bognor a three point lead.

Basingstoke were still enjoying the lion’s share of territory and possession but Bognor’s defence continued to fly off the line and knock back their more experienced opponents. Finally, however, the visitors spotted a gap and, five minutes before half-time, they touched down for the game’s opening try.

At the start of the second half Bognor’s injury woes continued as experienced prop Marc Voigt was forced to leave the field with a badly gashed head. Foote responded with another superb run, beating six defenders before being hauled down just a few metres short of the line.

A yellow card saw the visitors reduced to fourteen men and Bognor increased the pressure on Basingstoke’s line. A petty altercation saw two more yellow cards, one for each side, and the gaps began to appear.

Centre Connor Herrington, making a welcome return from Winchester University, took advantage of the increased space and used his pace to round his opposite number to crash over for Bognor’s first try of the match. Dent converted to restore Bognor’s three-point lead.

Basingstoke, back to full strength, responded with some attacks of their own and it took some superhuman efforts fro Noah Flinn and Jeremy Newton-Young to keep them out. Herrington again showed his class with an exquisite chip and chase, and he was rewarded with a penalty in front of of the posts which Dent again chipped over.

Skipper Charlie Jays was forced off with a facial injury but, with time running out, Bognor looked confident about managing the remaining minutes. However, some inexperience was about to cost them dearly, as a speculative kick by the visitors ended up with a ruck forming right on the home line. As the ball crossed the line, it was a Basingstoke player who reacted most quickly to get his hand on the ball and the conversion to put them one point in the lead was a formality.

Bognor fought back in the dying seconds, with prop Tom James battling to the very end but, sadly for the home supporters, it was not to be.

Next Saturday Bognor will need to lick their wounds as they travel to Trojans for what is always a tough fixture. (KO 3pm)

Bognor 2’s host Littlehampton in a pre season friendly (KO 3pm)

Man-of-the Match Jamie Foote takes on the whole Basingstoke Team!
(Photo: Vicky Weller)