A TYPICALLY tense local derby played out in atrocious weather conditions saw home side Portsmouth extend their unbeaten league record to nine matches by beating Gosport & Fareham 8-3.

With nothing separating the sides throughout, it was an absorbing contest although the hosts led from the 12th minute after winger Ogi Ofuasia sped in.

Dane Smallbone reduced the arrears with a penalty on the half-hour and, although Gosport were reduced to 14 men when Chris Thompson was given a ten-minute rest bang on the break, Portsmouth were unable to take advantage as the game continued in the gloom.

Saturated supporters believed the next score would be the clinical one but it was only when former skipper Neil Styles slotted over an injury time penalty that Portsmouth finally sealed the win to maintain their vice-like grip on the London Two South leadership.

Disappointed Gosport captain Simon Burns, pictured, was far from displeased with his side's effort.

"Portsmouth kicked well and kept clearing their lines with interest," he said. "At 5-3, it was anyone's game. But a great credit to the lads - we pressurised them but they didn't crack, despite us coming back into the game well."

Burns saved special comment for 18-year-old debut -making lock forward Simon Pickett, who he believed was "outstanding in his first game and in a local derby as well." He made Pickett the man-of-the-match.

Havant's recent climb in National Division Three South stalled as they dropped to a 16-36 reverse to league leaders Lydney but the Severnsiders only pulled away with two tries in the last ten minutes.

The home side started superbly with Liam Davenport going over and Steve Claffey dropping a goal and hitting a penalty all within the first ten minutes to worry the leaders. But they showed their class to record 24 unanswered points.

Havant felt the wrath of the referee throughout and had two players sin-binned, which helped the visitors, but, back to full compliment, Davenport capitalized on some good organised forward play to score a replica of his first.

With the score at 16-24, hopes were high that Havant could further narrow the gap but Lydney stepped on the gas in the final ten minutes to leave them with an unfair scoreline to ponder.

"I think it fair that we can reflect that, for large parts of the game, we were a match for a team that will undoubtedly be challenging for promotion throughout the season," said Havant director of rugby Adam King.