For the sixth time in the competition's history, top county pair Havant and Basingstoke will go head-to-head in the Hampshire Cup final.

The top two will clash on April 17 after coming through their respective semi-finals against lower league opposition

Havant made light work of disposing of last season's champions Andover 70-0 while Basingstoke were less impressive in their 40-19 victory over Winchester.

The London One side had eased into a 12-0 lead in as many minutes but they then dropped their guard and continued to let Winchester scent their scalp with sloppy defending.

Adi Mort's typically bulldozing effort from close range cut the arrears after Seb Berti and player/coach and captain Jim Dixon had put the visitors in command.

However, Ian Calder's crucial score just on half-time opened the gap once more.

Whether Basingstoke felt this would be a stroll in the park after the first 12 minutes is under some debate.

But Rob West ensured they were in for a rough ride immediately after the break when he came steaming in to go under the posts.

However, two tries split by fifteen minutes saw Basingstoke home as Dixon somehow added a second as the ball mysteriously appeared for him to drive in while Simon Appleby posted their fifth on the hour.

The difference for Winchester, albeit too late in the contest, came with the introduction of long-term injury absentee Ben Baseley, who added an extra dimension to their play and he was influential in their final score.

Ed Watts, brought in at the last minute for a rare first team outing, weaved in and out to go in under the posts but Vincent Feausi capped Basingstoke's day with a final try for the relieved visitors.

His side's showing on the day did not overly impress Dixon. "After going two tries up quickly, it looked as though we thought it would be a walkover but we realised we had to work for it.

"Winchester played to their strengths and they can take that from the game, but we are happy to get to the final for the sixth year in a row.

"However, we have more important league issues to concentrate on now."

As for Winchester, coach Barry Bridgman was pleased with the workrate produced by his team.

"There was no disgrace in this defeat," he said. "Basingstoke will know that they were in a tough contest.

"And our front row stole six of their scrum balls, which was a great effort. So we can be pleased with our performance, if not that we lost."

Andover embarrassingly lost the county crown they sensationally won last year when they were crushed in a 12-try salvo at the hands of Havant in a heavily one-sided contest.

Winger Keith Molyneux helped himself to a hat-trick of tries as well as posting five conversions in a 25 point personal haul while Ben Jenkins, Steve Cruddas and Cam Avery all crossed twice.

The patched-up Andover side were no match to the silkiness of Havant, who stepped on the gas in the second half and made amends for the shock reverse they suffered at the hands of the All Blacks at this stage last season.

Havant Director of Rugby Adam King was especially pleased with his side's attitude to the game.

He was delighted that they worked throughout instead of slacking off, which could have happened in this mis-match of a clash.

"It was a useful exercise," he said. "As the attitude shown by the team proves, we have come a long way since we played them last year.

"And that was the key to this game."

Andover, without a chunk of their regular outfit including former county captain Marc Wilding at number eight and leading try-scoring winger Sam Froggett, could not quell Havant.

So the county's top two will clash at Down Grange in mid-April for the right to be crowned top club in Hampshire.