Calne knew that they would have to turn on the magic, after the two teams met earlier in the season, where Bassett went 21-0 up into half time, but with Calne going on to win in style. Calne knew they would need to take the game to Bassett and not let up for the full 80 minutes, and this is exactly what they did. The result was one of the best performances of the season, so far, and as quoted by sidelined veteran and prolific try scorer, Neil Young, “There was no doubt that Bassett are a good side but they were outclassed in every aspect of the game”.

Calne started the game like their lives depended on it. Chasing the kick off and forcing Bassett to concede a penalty inside of two minutes. Which Captain, Andrew Donegan, converted to open the scoring giving Calne the early lead. Calne then scored straight from the kick off. The forwards received the kick off and made it back to the half way line, shipped the ball to the backs and into the hands of Guthrie Holliday. Holliday then made some more yardage then Damon Murphy, supporting well as he always does, received the pass and headed towards the try line. Murphy then off loaded to Lewis Baker to score between the posts.

For the next 10 minutes, the pressure went up and down the field, with both sides running the ball well and defending well. But as per most weeks, Calne’s scrum dominated the away side’s, thanks to two, old faithful, front rowers in Matt Arnold and Mick Dyer. On this occasion, Dave Holmes who was playing his second front row game, for the first team, this season and playing very well aided them. Homes’ performance promises to make future team selections very difficult.

Calne were winning all their own scrums and turning over half of Bassetts. This is where the next try came from. Calne won a scrum against the head and the ball found its way into the hands of Holliday again, who decided to go on one of his trademark runs. With no disrespect to Bassett, Holliday ran half the length of the pitch and around what must have been at least six players to score the try. An increasingly common result at the end of a Holliday run. The boot of Donegan added the extras too.

Donegan added three more points just minutes later with another penalty, as a result of some good loose play from Flanker Neil Watkins forcing Bassett to hold onto the ball at a breakdown

The next score came from a 5-meter scrum. No8 Alan Wicks controlled the ball at the back of the drive, just as he picked up the ball to pounce over the line; a boot came through and kicked it out of his hands. The referee awarded the penalty try but as deserved, Wicks was told it was still his try to claim. Then came Calne’s only lapse of concentration. Bassett were awarded a penalty and they caught Calne napping. The visiting forwards drove their way over the line for a converted try. Calne soon cancelled out the score thanks to Donegan, after a race down the touchline to score in the corner and in true form, the difficult conversion was slotted between the posts.

The final score of the half was from Bassett, as the visitors converted a penalty to go into half time 34-10 down

Calne had to defend a little more in the second half, but this still didn’t stop them from scoring more points. A solid performance from second row Jim Morten, working hard in the scrums, with fellow second row and brother Matt, and robbing line-outs from the opposition, ensured Calne’s domination of possession continued.

Now temporarily down to 14 men, due to a sin binning, making Calne one man light in the scrum, Calne were still able to win a scrum against the head. Wicks moved from No8 to blindside flanker, hooked the bobbing ball back and the backs went on another rampaging run, with Baker scoring his second try as a result.

Calne soaked up more of Bassett’s pressure, holding them up on the line twice to prevent them scoring any more points. But every time Calne got into the Bassett 22 meter they appeared to come away with points, the next time coming from a try from winger Seth Shardlow after a typical powerful, tackle breaking run up the wing.

Following some excellent big hit tackles from full back Stuart Boswell and centre James Gladding, Calne worked their way up field again. Out of nowhere, replacement back rower, Simon Lathbury popped up with the ball to race 30 metres to the line to score a try, after being on the field just a few minutes. Donegan added the extras again.

The final score of the game came from Holliday after yet another weaving run, to add another try to his impressive tally. Unfortunately, Donegan missed the conversion but it was the only one of 10 throughout the game, so no one complained. This turned out to be the final kick of the game to finish a perfect afternoon for the home side.

This win almost guarantees Calne a home draw for the Southern Counties promotion playoff at the end of the season. County players Holliday and Murphy shared the man of the match honours.

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