EASTLEIGH kept a tight grip on their early lead in London 2 South-West with a clinical 48-0 victory over Gosport & Fareham.

Gos’ now occupy the other end of the table after they leaked eight tries at Bishopstoke Road – four of them scored by Jack Berry.

Tom Willoughby was first over the Gosport line before Berry struck twice and James Mitchell, named his side’s man of the match, brought up the bonus point fourth before the break.

With a couple of conversions Eastleigh turned around 24-0 up and went on to register the same number of points in the second half.

John Williams touched down first, Berry brought up his hat-trick, captain Terry Papworth also got in on the try-scoring act and Berry had the final word when he went over in the corner.

Winchester’s second bonus point victory on the bounce has kept them with the early London 3 South-West pacesetters.

Winch followed up their opening day win over US Portsmouth with a 48-22 home win over Andover.

In the same division Trojans lost out for a second time – beaten 35-27 at home to Portsmouth RFC.

However this was a far closer contest than the previous loss to Warlingham and could have gone either way. It was end-to-end from the start with the lead changing hands seven times.

Portsmouth had a slight advantage at the break, leading 22-20 with Trojans’ points coming via four tries – Ben Rose, who had to retire injured in the process, No 8 Chris Boyd, winger Elliott Culley and fly-half Toogi Long.

Portsmouth edged in front but another Culley try, converted by Josh Gregory, put the home side ahead.

Not to be outdone the visitors hit back immediately and went on to score another try to deny Trojans a second bonus point.

In London 1 South Tottonians had to settle for second best at home once more as they lost out to Thurrock RFC.

Totts slipped up in their opening game at Water Lane to Dartfordians before tasting success at Chichester.

But they were on the back foot from the off last weekend as Thurrock piled on the pressure in the opening ten minutes to go 7-0 ahead. They led 10-5 at the break – Dylan Baptiste scoring a try for the home side following a good spell of pressure and an interception from Nick Jones.

Tottonians took the lead early in the second half when Ieuan Williams spun his way over the line following a scrum and new addition to the side, Rich Colmer, converted.

His attempt at a penalty from the halfway line minutes later bounced off the crossbar but he did add more points with an easier kick to put Totts 15-10 ahead.

Colmer’s boot was needed on another two occasions to salvage a losing bonus point as a sharp Thurrock side took a couple of chances on offer and scored two converted tries.

HAMPSHIRE LEAGUE

Little mercy was shown to a weakened Tottonians second side as Fordinbridge clocked up an 84-11 Hampshire Premier League win.

The New Forest club averaged more than a point a minute on their home ground as they ran in 13 tries to one.

Bridge’s bonus point was in the bag within 20 minutes as last season’s highest try scorer, Peter Scott, claimed four first half tries with Ross Bealey and Jack Griffiths adding one each.

Totts kept their heads up throughout the game and got a try just before the break.

However their defence was breached a further seven times as Peter Scott, man of the match Mark Hammond, newcomer Joe Tooze, Ross Bealey, Tim Beer and a brace from Craig Stocker added to the tally.

Millbrook chalked up their first victory of the season with a 17-7 home success over New Milton.

The New Forest side’s line-up included nine changes from the previous week while Brook were determined to get an opening game win at Five Acres.

They were 7-0 up at the break thanks to Chad Bulpitt-Hutton dab down try and conversion from Sean Kirkup. Two more tries followed after the interval – Jordon Lambert getting the first and Mike Thomas finishing off great work from last season’s colts, Matt Doling and Dempsey Bedwell.

New Milton’s stylish try came from an Adam Lavis break from the base of a ruck, with Ali Gunn on hand to finish it off.

Eastleigh twos followed in their firsts’ footsteps with a comprehensive victory over Gosport – winning 55-12.

Hampshire Chronicle:

England coach Eddie Jones popped into Millbrook to help coach some of the club’s youngsters last week – and have a cup of tea! He is pictured with Brook’s colts coach, Luke Wilson, left, and firsts’ captain Tom Colling.

RESULTS

London 1 South
Brighton 67 Havant 26, Sevenoaks 27 Chobham 8, Medway 25 Chichester 20, Camberley 76 Dartfordians 10, Cobham 29 Hove 12, Westcombe Park 52 London Cornish 26, Tottonians 21 Thurrock 27.
             
London 2 South-West
Eastleigh 48 Gosport & Fareham 0, KCS Old Boys 25 London Exiles 24, Farnham 39 Effingham & Leatherhead 20, Twickenham 19 Old Tonbridgians 19, Old Cranleighans 23 Old Emanuel 12, Old Reigatian 20 Old Alleynians 46.

London 3 South-West
Teddington 26 Old Tiffinians 34, Old Whitgiftian 22 Warlingham 14, Battersea Ironsides 29 Old Georgians 26, Trojans 27 Portsmouth 35, Petersfield 26 United Services, Portsmouth 50, Winchester 48 Andover 22.

Hampshire Premier
Alresford 72 Portsmouth II 14, Basingstoke 46 Bognor 15, Eastleigh II 55 Gosport II 12, Fareham Heathens 7 Sandown & Shanklin 31, Fordingbridge 84 Tottonians II 5, Millbrook 17 New Milton 7.
 

Hampshire 1
Romsey 22 Farnborough 29, Alton 42 Isle of Wight 14, Ventnor 13 Locks Heath Pumas 22, Ellingham & Ringwood 87 Trojans II 22, Overton 53 Southampton 10, Winchester II 28 Andover II 19.

Hampshire 2
Tottonians III 52 Fareham Heathens II 0, Havant III 58 Aldershot & Fleet 17, Petersfield II 5 Nomads 60, Petersfield II  Nomads , Basingstoke II 47 Stoneham 22, Fawley 62 Overton II 19, Chineham 29 Winchester Knights 5. 
 

Fixtures for Saturday, September 22
London 1 South: London Cornish v Tottonians, Chobham v Westcombe Park, Thurrock v Medway, Hove v Sevenoaks, Dartfordians v Havant, Cobham v Brighton, Chichester v Camberley.
London 2 South-West: Old Alleynians v Old Cranleighans, London Exiles v Old Reigatian, Effingham & Leatherhead v Twickenham, Gosport & Fareham v Farnham, Old Emanuel v Eastleigh, Old Tonbridgians v KCS Old Boys.
London 3 South-West: Warlingham v Teddington, Old Tiffinians v Battersea Ironsides, Portsmouth v Old Whitgiftian, Andover v Petersfield, United Services, Portsmouth v Trojans, Old Georgians v Winchester.
Hampshire Premier: Bognor v Alresford, Fordingbridge v Millbrook, Gosport II v Tottonians II, New Milton v Basingstoke, Portsmouth II v Fareham Heathens, Snadown v Eastleigh II.
Hampshire 1: Locks Heath Pumas v Ellingham & Ringwood, Ventnor v Winchester II, Southampton v Andover II, Farnborough v Overton, Trojans II v Alton, Isle Of Wight v Romsey.
Hampshire 2: Winchester Knights v Stoneham, Fawley v Nomads, Chineham v Aldershot & Fleet, Havant III v Fareham Heathens II, Tottonians III v Petersfield II, Overton II v Basingstoke II.