The race for promotion from Hampshire Division 1 remains in the melting pot after Sandown & Shanklin narrowed Trojans' lead at the top to just two points with a comprehensive victory over US Portsmouth.

Surprise package Sandown remain the sole threat to the Stoneham Lane side's ambitions, having built a six-point cushion between themselves and the chasing pack.

Their 48-15 victory over Services, who are still perilously placed at third from bottom and two points ahead of the drop zone, was no more than they deserved and they had the game firmly wrapped up early in the second half.

The silkiness of the back division caused Services huge problems as they found regular gaps in the defence and team manager Burt Reynolds had to admit: "They are by far the best side we have played this season.

"They were a foot taller and foot wider than we were and, although we were not disheartened by our performance, Sandown were a different class and I can see them beating Trojans when they meet in March."

Fareham Heathens kept their slimmest of promotion hopes alive with a decent 25-12 victory over an injury-ravaged New Milton & District, who fielded a decimated side, including a mixture of second and third XV players in the front row.

That shouldn't detract from Heathens' win. They ran three tries through Trevor Illingworth, Jamie Daly and John Jarvis for a result which lifted them back to third place and coach Matt Southey was delighted with the victory.

"I was chuffed with the way the lads played and I feel we have turned the corner after some disappointing results," he said. "I have asked some big questions of the team and they answered them with this performance."

There was little disagreement in the Millbrook camp that they didn't deserve to beat struggling Farnborough, but considering the injury crisis that is running through the club, the 22-19 reverse was acceptable.

Without key players Richard Goodridge and Dominic Sales - both expected to be out for a considerable space of time - Millbrook could have stolen the win as they competed well, especially at the breakdowns.

Two tries from skipper Dean Weaver was not enough as team manager Alan Day conceded: "We were beaten by the better side on the day Farnborough had everyone training in midweek while we had just seven, so you get out what you put in."

Nomads' Twickenham dream came to an end in the Powergen Junior Vase fifth round when they were defeated by a keen London Cornish side 22-7, a scoreline that hardly reflects the way the Portsmouth-based men played.

Only a very late try added further impetus to the London men's finally tally while James Hardy had a rotten kicking day, missing several attempts at goal in the first half.

Rob Noye sprinted under the posts for their sole try after good work by Tim Ralston and Mark Springall and, despite trailing 12-7 at the break, they were still in the contest with the wind at the backs in the second half.

It was not to be, however, as Cornish opened the scoring early in the period and the game continued to fluctuate until the visitors clinched the win at the death.

Trojans were well beaten in a friendly run-out against Basingstoke II 32-12 but coach Pete Surtees was satisfied that his side had a chance to blow off the Christmas cobwebs, despite the heavy scoreline.