BASEMENT boys BBOBs humbled Huntingdon on Saturday and Stags skipper James Thorp admits they need to have a good look in the mirror following this latest setback.

Midlands Two East South

Northampton BBOB 22 Huntingdon Stags 0

BASEMENT boys BBOBs humbled Huntingdon on Saturday and Stags skipper James Thorp admits they need to have a good look in the mirror following this latest setback.

Thorp, who returned to action after a long injury lay-off, said: “Up front we were completely outplayed.

“That in turn meant our backline was on the back foot and often caught behind the advantage line. When we did get front foot ball and attacked, we looked reasonably threatening, but poor handling let us down.

“The only players who really impressed me were Tom MacCreadie in the forwards and Wayne Bradley in the backs. The rest off us need to take a good look at ourselves and our mental attitude for the rest of the season.”

For the second week running, Stags were too slow out of the traps, conceding two tries in the first ten minutes - and they never recovered.

The visitors also sorely missed the presence of prop Steven Chantler, who was nursing a shoulder injury and their reorganised forward pack failed to dominate the scrum and lineout as they have in previous weeks.

Vice captain Ben Strangeways added: “Yes we are down and upset at not playing to our potential, but we still have good team spirit and will be looking to finish the season strongly.

“We owe it to ourselves for a season of hard graft not to let the wheels fall off at this late stage.”

Stags now have a weekend off before entertaining Northampton Old Scouts at the Racecourse next Saturday, a match they must win to keep their hopes a top half finish alive.

> STAGS’ junior and minis out in force against Shelford on Sunday morning and a Barney West brace along with a sole try from Zayd Makorie guided Stags U16s to a 15-12 win.

For the U11s, Luke Toates, Harry Edwards, Fraser Hutton (2) and George Durnan were on the scoresheet in an overall 63-33 loss.

Harry March scored four tries for the U10s, while James Gould also went over as they won one and lost two.

At U8 level, there were four defeats but Harvey Pinckney (3), Reece Smith (3), Andrew Clemens, Ethan Moody, William Ramply, Jason Graham (5), Connor Smith, Corben Sartain (2), Jack Connell and Jake Bycroft all touched down during the morning.