BASINGSTOKE RFC complete their trio of matches against the top three sides in London South One when second-placed Guildford are the visitors to Down Grange on Saturday.

’Stoke will be hoping it is third time lucky for them, having narrowly lost at home to leaders Wimbledon last week and away at Sutton and Epsom seven days earlier.

The side deserve some early Christmas cheer as their recent efforts should have earned them at least one victory.

A win could lift them out of the relegation zone, which they occupy following a 15-point deduction after they fielded an unregistered player and falsified the match card in the first game against Guildford this season.

The game played on the second weekend of September saw the Surrey side win 37-31, as the visitors staged a late fightback with tries from Ryan Travaskis and Jobi Kochanowski.

Guildford will arrive at Down Grange with a very impressive recent record, having won their last seven games.

They are unbeaten at home, but have lost twice on the road, going down to top-five sides Chobham and Wimbledon.

However, after his side’s recent results Basingstoke head coach Will Croker feels his charges will be up for the challenge.

He took plenty of positives from the narrow loss against Wimbledon.

Croker said: “It was great to see Matt Horne back and Charlie Eaves is only 18 and has come through our academy and was brilliant in the scrum.

“I felt we were a threat with the ball in hand and we now just have to find a way to turn narrow losses into wins.”

Looking ahead to the Guildford game Croker said: “I never like losing at home and with two games in the space of two weeks, this time around we do not have to wait long to put things right.”