THERE was no success for Hampshire clubs in the league play-offs as both Sandown & Shanklin and Portsmouth lost their chance to step up.
The Hurricanes fell in a superb clash to London Cornish 27-14, while Portsmouth's third attempt at promotion through the play-offs went the same way as the previous two as they were thrashed 55-12 by star-studded Staines.
Sandown were hit in the first half as Cornish cranked up a 19-0 interval lead and it was always going to be an uphill struggle for Lee Priddle's men following the turnaround.
However, two excellent tries, the first from a break by Alan Morey and the second from Cornish's ten-metre line completed by Dean Gasper gave them some hope.
However, a third try for the Surrey side wrapped up the win and their place in London Four South-West for next season.
Priddle was far from disheartened by the performance. "It was a really good, close and physical game.
"We scored the best two tries of the afternoon and our defence was outstanding, so there was plenty to be pleased about even if we did not get promoted."
The upshot of Sandown's failure to be promoted is that Farnborough are relegated to Hampshire Two to make way for the excess of county clubs dropping into Hampshire One from London Four.
"We were hammered," was the honest opinions of Portsmouth's rugby manager Nigel Morgan as his side were put to the sword by progressive Staines, conceding eight tries in their 55-12 mauling.
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