WOOTTON Bassett were condemned to another season of Southern Counties South rugby after an agonising 22-3 defeat to Oxfordshire outfit Wallingford in Saturday's promotion decider.
It was the second time in 12 months Bassett have lost a Southern Counties play-off, as Wallingford grabbed the one remaining place in South West Two East.
Skipper Dave Floyd couldn't mask his disappointment at the final whistle, but he insists Bassett will be back for another crack at the league title in 2008/9.
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Floyd said: "We started the game quite well, but Wallingford came into their own towards the end of the first half.
"All the boys gave it 100 per cent but they were just better than us on the day.
"It's disappointing to lose two play-off finals, but it means we have to win the league if we want to get promoted.
"We had a few good results this year and we were unbeaten at home, but we were a little inconsistent away.
"We will have a hard-earned rest this summer and come back refreshed ready to give it another go."
Bassett took the initiative on Saturday and their supporters were soon celebrating when centre Tim Gallimore kicked them into a 3-0 lead.
From the restart, the visitors poured forward again, but were thwarted by the robust Wallingford defence.
Eventually the hosts found their feet, and by half time they had managed to turn a three-point deficit into a two-point lead.
Some poor scrummaging from Bassett allowed the Wallingford scrum half to snipe and cross the line untouched, although the conversion was missed.
With all still to play for in the second half both teams were expected to come out firing, but it was Wallingford who dominated the early exchanges.
Some good attacking play resulted in a second try out wide, which this time was converted for a 12-3 lead.
Bassett continued to enjoy plenty of possession, but failed to convert their pressure into points.
Wallingford were far more clinical and they scored again on their next visit to the Bassett twenty two, with the winger floating out wide to make the most of an overlap.
The conversion was missed but the victory was all but sealed as Wallingford stretched their lead to 17-3.
The hosts then hammered a final nail in the coffin, Wallingford's flyhalf taking advantage of a tiring Bassett defence to run in a fourth try.
Again the kick sailed wide of the posts, but as the final whistle sounded, Wallingford were worthy 22-3 victors.
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