THE win was crucial, the relief was evident but they are still not out of the dreaded bottom three. That's the facts surrounding Gosport & Fareham's vital 16-7 win over Old Mid-Whitgiftian.

A try deep into second-half injury-time from James Barnes ensured the win was theirs but with other results not particularly going their way, they know that they must win at least three of their remaining four games.

Three penalties, two from Neil Evans and another through Richard Lloyd, kept the Fareham just in the ascendancy before Barnes made sure of the win.

Coach Sean Fanning, playing in his first game for a year, was influential in their success and breathed a huge sigh of relief, despite not moving up the table.

"It is a massive relief that we have won," he said. "Whitgiftians were fifth and they came here to win, so you could see the disappointment on their faces when they didn't.

"I was worried going into this game because if we had lost, we would have been relegated. Now we have some confidence going into the match with Dartfordians, which will be a big, big test for us.

"They are in the same position so whoever loses that game in two weeks' time will go down - and we don't want that to be us."

Portsmouth are looking at the prospect of the play-offs against a money-rich London Two North side after their disappointing 15-10 defeat at third-placed Guildford.

Havant did not let their rustiness of being stuck on the M4 affect them whatsoever as they returned an awesome performance to dismantle Dings Crusaders 37-8, which saw them leapfrog the West Country side into fifth.

So often poor on their travels, they turned on the style under the lights - after kick-off was delayed for some 45 minutes, resulting in the floodlights being switched on - once the close first half was completed with Havant leading 13-8.

But tries from prolific wingman Cam Avery and a brace from former Melrose captain Bruce Ruthven saw the visitors saunter to victory, claiming the bonus point and recording their best away win of the season.

There was nothing but praise from director of rugby Adam King, who beamed: "I feel we have moved another step forward in winning handsomely at an intimidating West Country venue.

"The players showed they are mentally tough enough to win in front of partisan fans. Our intensity was magnificent and firepower awesome."

Hampshire under-20s' match in a fortnight's time against The Army at Aldershot will be winner-takes-all after the Navy blues defeated winless Middlesex 28-13 at a windswept Trojans yesterday.

The home side ran in five tries, including one each for the front-row union of James Gregg, Kank Osborne and hooker James Mildenhall.