Millbrook were fuming after forcing the pace against league leaders Trojans - only to lose 13-5 in appalling conditions at Stoneham Lane.

Millbrook also had what they believed to be two perfectly valid tries ruled out.

Team manager Alan Day was steaming with anger at the final whistle.

"What do we have to do to get the five points given?" he said, pointing to the EIGHT tries Millbrook have had disallowed in three games this season - against Isle of Wight, Sandown & Shanklin and now Trojans.

"There was only one team in the game and that was us. I scored, Dominic (Sales) scored - they were clear tries and it just doesn't matter what we do at the moment, we just cannot get the scores that we deserve.

"Other than that, it was a cracking game in abysmal conditions but there was no doubt that we were the better side."

Trojans opened well, with all their points coming in the first 20 minutes.

But it was visiting Millbrook, and especially their forwards, who dominated after that and, had luck been on their side, they could have produced the result of the season. As it was, Sales scored the only try that was given in their favour.

Trojans coach Pete Surtees admitted his second-best side were "absolutely awful" and praised Millbrook.

"They outmauled us and were the better side today. I am sure they will be gutted about not winning," he said.

"That aside, we are looking for wins in the bag and, despite being shocking, we have won the game. I am not overly happy with our performance and it is not acceptable. We need to improve against these sorts of teams."

Surtees did not, however, agree with Millbrook over the disallowed tries.

"They didn't cross the line," he said. "It was such a melee but they were at least a foot short. Sales was unlucky not to get his maybe, but I was fairly close and I didn't think they were tries."

Fareham Heathens got themselves back to winning ways again with a slog in the slime, avenging their Junior Vase defeat to Nomads by pulling out an 11-5 success.

But it does not prevent them from dropping another place in the table to fourth.

It got so dark towards the end of the game that the floodlights were forced into action but injury-decimated Heathens held out for the win against the improving Nomads side, courtesy of Neil Channing's try and two Niall Allardice penalties.

"We had to grudge out the game," felt coach Matt Southey, "and it was hard work in the freezing cold. But we are happy to get going again after a couple of defeats."

Isle of Wight stay fifth after bouncing back from the disappointment of their local rivals reverse at Sandown by beating struggling US Portsmouth 10-5 in a game that coach Richard Sawle admitted was one of "back to basics."

With virtually the same personnel as last week but playing in much favoured positions, the Islanders dominated in the forwards and pegged Services back on many occasions. That allowed Isle of Wight to release their backs, resulting in two tries for wingers Richard Dollimore and Will Peters.

But they had several tries disallowed and, having held well over two thirds of the game, were disappointed to win by only a margin of five points.

"There were not many times we pushed teams around like we did yesterday," Sawle said. "We wanted to go back to basics after the Sandown game, where we tried to be too flash - and it worked. We knew if we nailed Services in the forwards, we would have the measure of them."

New Milton & District are up to third after their comprehensive 44-17 victory over lowly Alresford while Sandown & Shanklin remain Trojans' main title contenders after a tense 15-13 success at Farnborough.