Winchester were firing on all cylinders as they sank Gosport and Fareham 34-0 at home.

After last Saturday’s powerful and strategically dominant performance, coach Gareth Martin praised the front five’s display.

He said: “Today, we just worked them off the park and it was particularly rewarding to see two front row players score.”

Tight head Jim Beavan opened the scoring. His touchdown came from the deft hands and elusive running of centre Jake Hiscock who was to intimidate the opposition throughout the game.

Gosport’s backs looked very capable, but they were never going to penetrate what has become one of the tightest defences in the league. Combine that with the confidence of a speedy kick-chase and fly half Josh Tolan was able to keep the opposition pegged in their own half. An extended period of pressure with a series of scrums ended with a fine pass from scrum-half Connor Breen to wing Miles Sampson; he dotted down the first of his two tries of the day, writes Derek Cheshire.

Gosport’s lineout could not cope with Tolan’s tactical kicks into touch. A fine take by No 8 and captain Matt Golding led to a typically mazy run by winger Tom Forster, eluding all attempted tackles, to place the ball under the posts. Tolan converted and the score was 17-0 at half time.

As the second half restarted Gosport tried to keep the game tightly in the forwards. Winchester maintained their attacking edge with magnificent counter rucks and forward drives. The bonus point score was started from Winchester’s own half and carried forward 50 metres. A final pass wide and nobody was going to stop Sampson crashing over for the try.

Winchester’s forwards were really putting on the pressure now, none more so than the second row of Matt Lown and Saul Morgan. Against very strong opposition and with a driving maul Morgan carried the ball over for try number five.

If the backs had been eye-catching it was the forwards who sealed the victory. Hooker Jimmy Wallis, excellent throughout, scored in the corner. Desperate attempts by Gosport continued to flounder and they were comfortably held scoreless.

Coach Martin said: “We started the year saying our goal was to be one squad and every player over the last three months has been fantastic.”