TROJANS maintained their vice-like grip upon the Hampshire Division One leadership but they were outscored by two tries to one in an excellent encounter with Fareham Heathens before holding out for a 16-10 win.

With clinical defending the outstanding feature of this end-to-end match between the top two sides in the division, it took a full half-hour before the deadlock to be broken as neither could find a way through the brick-wall like lines.

In fact, it was more likely that the visitors were to be first on the scoreboard as Ian Hudson came within five metres of the hosts line only to see Heathens number eight Trevor Illingworth turn over the ball and sprint the 80 metres to the line unopposed.

Such was the strength of Heathens protectiveness of their line that Trojans were reduced to a snap drop-goal from Nigel LeBas shortly before the break but they gained the lead when Tim Zeale struck a long-range penalty three minutes into the second half.

A well worked move from a penalty and subsequent line-out finally broke the Heathens resolve as Hudson made no mistake in the corner but the home side were not to be outdone as they peppered the Trojans line, which resulted in Anthony Reynolds taking Jamie Daly's long pass.

However, as Heathens tried to claw back the three points deficit with time running short and attempting to break out of their own half, they conceded a last-ditch penalty and Zeale made sure the points headed back to Stoneham Lane with his second penalty. Trojans coach Pete Surtees was not surprised that Heathens played the way they did. "On this junior sized pitch, they played to their limitations and restricted us," he said. "We kept our discipline well considering we knew it was going to be a hard game.

"We couldn't get our backs running, which we obviously like to do but given the conditions that was difficult so I am proud of the lads and the forwards especially," he said.

His opposite number Matt Southey was "gutted" that they came so close and felt Fareham were the better side on the park at times."

"We are building week on week and I am very pleased with the way we played. We tried to play a running game and our defence was excellent.

"We outscored the top side in the league two tries to one - what does that say about us?"

Sandown & Shanklin are the fourth side this season to occupy second place after they defeated Island rivals Isle of Wight 16-3 at the Fairway.

New Milton & District are back up to fourth following a bitty 27-15 victory over an injury-ravaged Millbrook who were without a full front-row and a host of backs.

That should, however, not deter from a performance that pleased coach Rowan Thomas sufficiently following a recent drought of wins given they were trailing at the interval to tries from half-back pairing Alan Day and Wayne Renwick.

Milton responded through hooker Ed Baker and scrum-half Tom Humphreys while Watcyn Lewis' boot continued to stretch the Foresters clear. Mark Tuckey's third killed off the Millbrook resistance although Dominic Sales did cross the line.

But the home side were left to bemoan their current situation and lack of a clinical goal-kicker. "We are really struggling at the moment," said skipper Dean Weaver.

Alresford are still without a win at the foot of the table but came agonisingly close yet again as they lost to Farnborough by a single point 16-15 while Nomads won the battle of the Portsmouth sides, defeating United Services 16-11.