Nick Creal converted four first-half penalties, but it was not enough to earn Romsey a Hampshire RFU Gales' Bowl semi-final slot. Instead, it's Southampton who will face Alton after turning round a 9-8 half-time deficit.

Tight finishes hasve been the order of the day for Romsey recently - but the Bowl quarter-final was closer than most Romsey supporters anticipated.

The influential Kieron Fox was among several key players missing as Romsey sent out a make-shift side against a full strength Southampton, whom they had beaten recently.

But the revamped half-back pairing of Nick Creal and Grand Harbour rose to the occasions and gave the visitors plenty to think about. Creal's three well struck penalties gave Romsey a nine-point cushion.

But Rogan Roy's left-wing dash, preceded by a penalty, enabled Southampton to cut the gap to 9-8 by the break.

Immediately after the restart a crosskick to the Romsey left wing saw defender and attacker leaping high to collect the ball but the Southampton man appeared to knock the ball on in mid-air, round his defender to gather and go over the try line near the posts.

Romsey's supporters screamed in vain for an intentional knock-on but the referee allowed Julian Robins' try, which gave Southampton a 15-9 lead.

A fourth penalty from Creal reduced the deficit to three points and set up a frantic finish.

But Romsey seldom looked like scoring from orthodox moves.

To their credit, Romsey continued to press for a win and to defend stoutly but all to no avail. When the final whistle blew, Southampton players leapt in delight to show how much the win meant to them and to emphasise how closely the spirited Romsey side had pushed them.

Romsey: Trentham: Nye, Francis, Ebsworth, LeMarechal: Harbour, Creal: McCormick, Hewitt, Fawcett; Bellis , Duquemin: Glanville, Samuel, Fleming. Replacements: Arthur, Banks.

Tomorrow Romsey entertain Dorking at the Sports Centre (2pm). With the visitors well placed and performing strongly in London South West 4, Romsey will have to be on their mettle if they are to produce yet another close encounter.