Romsey allowed a sizable half time lead to evaporate and lost the chance to pull off a shock result last Saturday, writes Bob Broomhall.

Leading 19-3 at half time, Romsey's tails were up against a team that had run rings round them in the away fixture in early December. But they lost their momentum after the break and suffered another costly defeat.

An early unconverted try by skipper Darren Sharpe after a kick and chase in the first five minutes gave Romsey the impetus they needed. The home side pressurised the KCS forwards, who were unable at this stage to provide their potentially dangerous and free running backs with good ball and this gave Romsey the confidence they needed to try some adventurous running.

In one such instance, Graham Noble burst through from just inside his own half and was supported by winger Parsons. Just as the movement was about to fizzle out, a neat piece of interpassing and just a little luck gave Parsons the opportunity to score on the right wing for the try, converted by Noble. A further converted try by Darren Sharpe put the home side into the enviable position of a sixteen point lead at half time.

The score might have been even greater. A succession of penalties conceded by KCS at five metre scrummages could have resulted in a penalty try if the ref had been as quick to penalise these offences as he was for 'over the top' at the ruck. The visitors launched the second half with persistent attacks by their talented back division but Romsey managed to keep them out. A well worked try brought the score to 19-8, but at this stage Romsey supporters were still looking forward to celebrating an unexpected victory.

However, the tide was turning. A leg injury to JJ Barber, who valiantly stayed on the field, reduced Romsey's scrummaging effectiveness and some weak tackling in midfield led to a further try by the visitors. With the score now at 19-13, Romsey supporters began to bite their nails and when Noble was sin-binned for an offside infringement at a ruck and Romsey were reduced to 14 men against such an attacking side, doom and gloom set in on the touchline.

A further KCS try was unconverted and Romsey still led by one point with four minutes of stoppage time to go. Then a classic heel against the head, albeit at very untidy scrum which probably should have been reset, gave KCS the winning break around the blind side. The try was unconverted but the game was lost and the Romsey players left the field deeply disappointed.

Despite this devastating result Romsey proved yet again that they can compete at this level. In the first half the whole team played well, but outstanding flanker Tim Beaumont who was outstanding throughout, was everywhere in the attempt to snuff out the KCS second half resurgence. Survival in this league will now depend on victories in remaining fixtures and the vagaries of the play-off results in Surrey Division One.