AS is so often the case when local rivals meet and so much is expected, Trojans' victory over Romsey was a damp squib of an occasion, writes Richard Isaacs.
The home side prevailed 22-6 with a side that eventually showed seven changes from the previous week after Tom Mackintosh turned his ankle on Friday evening before returning from Bath University.
Romsey, who boasted the return from student activities of three key players in Adam Trotman, Graham Noble and Mike Peace, were sorely lacking in team practice. The three tried to fit back in and play, but they had not trained with the team and it patently showed.
The final result does tell the whole story of this game. The hosts led 12-6 at the interval with Noble posting two penalties but missing three, while returning Trojans fly-half Dave Hamilton and debutante Pete Kellet both crossed.
But their coach Pete Surtees proceeded to give them 'a serious rocket up their behinds' at the break as they were playing miserably, and the game was killed off in the opening ten minutes of the second half when Tim Zeale posted the third try.
The game petered out and the hosts progressed to the next round, avenging the defeat Romsey inflicted on them last season at this stage of the competition.
Despite the scoreline being considerably closer than in previous weeks, Romsey were still hugely disappointed not to have turned in a much better showing than they did.
"Of course we're downhearted," said skipper Darren Sharpe. "We had probably one of our strongest sides of the season and still lost, playing poorly."
Had Graham Noble succeeded with more of his kicks at goal, landing only two in total, the Sports Centre outfit could have been leading at half-time. Ruing their misses Romsey were put under pressure throughout the second half and never looked like troubling the scoreboard as Trojans comfortably marched on into the next round.
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