Winchester’s new coach Gareth Martin used a nursery rhyme to sum up his team’s current form after a London 2 South-West loss at Old Reigatian.

Martin, who played at Number 8, said: “This team is like the little girl with a curl in the middle of her forehead.

“When we’re good, we’re very, very good, but when we’re bad we’re horrid. Today we were horrid.”

And there was no fairytale ending for Winch who lost 48-15 and saw winger Adam Bayliss taken to hospital with a serious injury.

He suffered fractured ribs, haematoma and tissue damage to his diaphragm, which will keep him out for several weeks.

The number of absentees, the reshuffle following Baylis’s injury, the loss of stand-in fly-half Josh Tolan and Martin himself towards the end with head knocks, and the introduction of debutant Ollie Dunger on the wing all contributed to Winchester’s unsettled play.

Martin’s “horrid” description was perhaps a little harsh, as, when Winch put some phases together, they did score three tries,.

Two were scored by flanker Steve Walker and one by second row Matt Golding.

Winchester are due to play Eastleigh at North Walls Park in the Hampshire Cup this Saturday.

Eastleigh are also a side looking for a morale-boosting victory. They lost again at the weekend - beaten 26-5 at Twickenham.

Worryingly for Eastleigh, they have scored just ten points in their last three games.

Gosport were defeated 35-27 at KCS Old Boys – Number 8 Sean Shepherd scored two tries for Gos and scrum half Wes Dugan also went over the line.