Robins score key to first win for Coffin

Four first-half Romsey penalties were not enough as winger Rogan Roy sprinted down the left wing late in the first half before right winger Julian Robins turned the game in the red and whites' favour mid-way through the second period.

It was the turning point as Tony Cador, who looks to be returning to the Southampton fold after his month-long exile, added the conversion and additional penalty to clinch the game once the Saints shored up their defence late on.

Skipper Marcus Coffin was absolutely delighted to have recorded his first success as captain. "I hope it is now the turning point of our season," he said. "It was a very hard game but I felt that we were always in control of it."

He did admit that he was concerned when they trailed in the first half but Robins' sprint down the right wing was the clincher. "That was it for me," he said, "and now we can go into the big two games before Christmas against Old Emanuel and Romsey with some confidence."

They will meet Alton in the semi-finals for the right to stage the final after the mid-Hampshire side made heavy work of disposing of struggling Hampshire One side US Portsmouth 15-13.

Petersfield will be Trojans' semi opponents following the Penns Place side's comprehensive 41-5 victory over Fareham Heathens - a scoreline which belies the nature of the game.

The London Four South-West side ran in seven tries on the freezing cold afternoon but were made to work hard for each and every one of them.

Heathens coach Matt Southey was mightily disappointed that his side were on the end of a true hammering.

Jamie Daly scored their only try, but Southey was fuming that his side "let their heads go down and that is my greatest concern.

"We outplayed them in the forwards and that was pleasing and we had a spell of good pressure for a period but Petersfield showed their class."

SEMI FINAL DRAW (to be played March 6, 2005)

Alton v Southampton, Trojans v Petersfield (final to be held at the winners of the first game).