THE WINE at their annual dinner and dance tasted sweeter than ever as Trojans moved four points clear at the top of Hampshire Division One as they exacted the perfect revenge for last year's defeat inflicted on them by New Milton & District.
With a forwards performance which coach Pete Surtees declared was "the best he has seen for many a year from a Trojans side", they caned the Foresters 28-0.
Two second half tries from winger Ian Hudson ensured the points came their way after Tristan Allen and number eight Tom Mackintosh had eased the hosts into a 15-0 interval lead.
Surtees could not have asked for much more, although the weather did hamper their normally fluent passing game.
"We showed the greater desire to win," he said.
"We outrucked and outmauled them and, but for the slippery conditions, it could have been a lot more."
He believed the New Milton coach Rowan Thomas was mightily downhearted by his side's lack of penetration, considering their recent performances where this has been much in evidence.
Fareham Heathens are back into second after beating Farnborough 11-5 with Barry Mohamed's two penalties the difference.
Hayden Lewis scored Heathens' try in the first half as they ground out the result, much to Matt Southey's pleasure.
"Farnborough are a big side so to get this kind of result against them in these conditions, which play into their hands, was excellent. Barry Mohamed was superb at full-back and Paul Charlson tackled everything from blindside flanker. It was a great result for us."
Isle of Wight are up to fifth thanks to a narrow 7-5 success over Millbrook - the difference between the sides being the Islanders scored their try under the posts making the conversion a formality while Danny Moore's try was out wide.
It was another tough result for Millbrook, who had most of the game, but Alan Day's conversion and long range penalty could have brought the spoils in for the hosts as Day grumbled "we are just not getting the rub of the green.
"We have had two really close games and lost them so we are all a bit depressed."
It was a day to forget for US Portsmouth, who got lost on their first ever visit to Alresford and arrived at the ground just five minutes before the scheduled kick-off.
They then saw the match abandoned after 15 minutes because of an injury to referee Steve Fisher.
Fisher tore a calf muscle with Services leading 3-0 and there was no alternative but to halt the game, although US manager Rick Scott did offer his services.
"However, I am no longer an affiliated official to the HRURS so I couldn't do it," he said.
"All in all, it was not the greatest day. We all got wet for quarter of an hour for nothing and we have go back again, probably in a fortnight, to do it all again. At least we will know the way!"
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