WINCHESTER are still playing the lead role in London 3 South-West following a tough test at basement side Petersfield.

Unbeaten Winch withstood an early onslaught from the home side but went on to run in eight tries for their sixth league success of the season.

Hooker Chris Searle was driven over the line to get the ball rolling for Winchester and tries from prop Jim Beavan and No 8 Matt Golding followed in the first half.

Guy Mawhood brought up the bonus point, centre Jake Hiscock, who had earlier been yellow carded, crossed the line, Beavan got his second, lock Matt Lown touched down and winger Tom Forster finished off the scoring.

The final eight minutes of the game had to be played on an adjacent pitch as Kier Garner, who cracked a couple of ribs, was attended to.

Also in SW3 Trojans had to settle for a bonus point as they ran in four tries in a 36-24 home defeat at the hands of a strong Battersea Ironsides.

The Stoneham Lane club scored two tries in each half – full back Patrick Gibbs claiming the first and wing Charlie Pooley going over the line.

Gibbs, who moved to scrum half, got another after the break and winger Ben Rose rescued a bonus point when he went over with the last play of the game.

Eastleigh kept themselves on the heels of London 2 South-West’s leading sides after mixing it with the best.

The Bishopstoke Road side travelled to unbeaten, and table topping, KCS Old Boys and, although not victorious, returned with two valuable and well-earned points.

Eastleigh were 12-0 down at the break and went further behind on the restart.

But they battled back to within five points twice – with tries from Will Rigglesford, man of the match Jack Berry and two from Tyson Peters. The 29-22 defeat meant Eastleigh claimed a losing bonus point and one for four tries.

Tottonians took too long to get into their stride as they lost out at home – beaten 31-27 by London 1 South opponents Cobham.

They Surrey club bossed most of the first half and turned around 19-7 in front after Ieuan Williams and kicker Rich Colmer had got their side back to 7-7.

Tottonians enjoyed a bit more of the ball after the break and slotted home a couple of penalties, only to fall further behind soon after.

A late Totts’ rally looked as if it may provide a nailbiting end as Dan Williams crossed in the corner and Ieuan Williams got his second on the opposite side of the pitch. Colmer drop kicked the first conversion from the touchline and also slotted home the second.

There was no time left on the clock to steal an unlikely win but the final ten minutes did net them a losing bonus point.

Gosport & Fareham lost 35-12 at Old Reigatian.

HAMPSHIRE LEAGUE 

Fordingbridge’s short trip to New Milton & District proved fruitful – a 43-20 victory keeping them at the right end of the Hampshire Premier table.

It was honours even after 40 minutes – tries from Bridge’s Jamie Tryska and Peter Scott and New Milton’s Josh Rehel Andy George taking the scoreline to 13-13.

Milton had plenty of first half possession through their forwards but it was a different story after the break.

They crossed the line one more time via Martin Wright while Fordingbridge backs upped their game and went on to score another five tries – Scott got a second, last season ‘s leading try scorer Dan Brown scored a hat-trick and Tryska also got a brace.

Millbrook registered their first bonus point win of the season by hammering Portsmouth IIs 62-24.

Tries rained in from James Bulpitt, Chad Marshall, Mike Thomas (2), Chris Fox (2), Jordan Lambert, Mike McGrath, Dempsey Bedwell and a penalty try. Bedwell also kicked six conversions.

Captain Tom Colling said: “It was a good all round performance and good to get the first five-point game of season. We will look to push on into top half of the table from here.”

Ellingham & Ringwood put on an impressive performance in Hampshire 1 – defeating Farnborough 22-15 at the Raymond Brown Memorial Ground.

Winger Jonny Joiner gave the Es a 5-0 half-time lead and they moved further ahead with a try from hooker Davide Budd, converted by Chris Frost.

A couple of tries and successful kicks kept Farnborough in the game but each time Ellingham countered – centre Matt Raybould on the counter attack and Frost with a penalty.

Romsey ran in tries left, right and centre as they walloped Andover IIs 64-12.

The game marked the 100th first team appearance for Rob Stent.

Flanker Matt Spark scored four tries, Gus Layton and Sam Sleap crossed the line twice and Dan Penn_Newman, Rob Heighway and Alex Lee also touched down.

RESULTS

London 1 South: London Cornish 24 Havant 45, Brighton 44 Chichester 21, Camberley 84 Chobham 17, Tottonians 27 Cobham 31, Medway 85 Hove 12, Dartfordians 18 Thurrock 26, Westcombe Park 7 Sevenoaks 19.

London 2 South-West: Old Alleynians 32 Old Tonbridgians 22, London Exiles 14 Old Emanuel 33, Twickenham 48 Farnham 40, Old Reigatian 35 Gosport & Fareham 12, KCS Old Boys 29 Eastleigh 22, Old Cranleighans 21 Effingham & Leatherhead 22.

London 3 South-West: Warlingham 17 US Portsmouth 31, Old Georgians 22 Old Whitgiftian 10, Portsmouth 41 Old Tiffinians 31, Teddington 27 Andover 40, Trojans 24 Battersea Ironsides 36, Petersfield 19 Winchester 46.

Hampshire Premier: Alresford 19 Eastleigh II 39, Basingstoke 50 Sandown 0, Bognor 53 Gosport II 3, Fareham Heathens 43 Tottonians II 24, Millbrook 62 Portsmouth II 24, New Milton 20 Fordingbridge 43.

Hampshire 1: Alton 96 Southampton 5, Locks Heath Pumas 20 Trojans II 0, Ellingham & Ringwood 22 Farnborough 15, Ventnor 9 Isle of Wight 7, Romsey 64 Andover II 12.

Hampshire 2: Petersfield II 22 Aldershot & Fleet 32, Tottonians Vets 36 Basingstoke II 24, Fareham Heathens II 0 Winchester Knights 40, Fawley 71 Havant III 7, Nomads 52 Chineham 7, Overton II 10 Stoneham 10.