Trojan force is too strong for Romsey

Trojans sit proudly on top Hampshire League One and that is where they intend to be at the end of the season. They take on second-placed New Milton next week in a crunch match so rested many of their key players for the cup clash at Stoneham Lane on Saturday.

Things are totally different for Romsey who languish at the bottom of London Division Four South-West without a point to their name.

Any chance they had of progressing in the Vase on Saturday were kicked into touch with a string of penalty misses - but in fairness they were always second best.

Romsey were clinging on at half-time, having converted two penalties, but they could have even been ahead, had fly-half Graham Noble not missed three goal kicks in the slippery conditions.

Trojans though had 13 points on the board thanks to tries from Dave Hamilton and Pete Kellet - one of which was converted.

They went further ahead five minutes after the restart when Tim Zeale scored a try and then converted.

Romsey can now concentrate on their league form and, ironically, league commitments are even more important to Trojans than the Vase.

"We rested about seven players because of our match against New Milton next week - it's our intention to win the league this year," declared coach Pete Surtees.

"The players who came in did really well and I was really pleased with their performance but we will revert to the normal squad last week.

"Last year when New Milton visited us we were something like 15-6 up with not long to go and lost 19-15 so we are out for revenge."

The tie certainly has a mouth-watering look to it with both sides in fine form. New Milton crossed Eastleigh's try line with ease as they also moved into the next round of the Vase with a 54-15 home victory.

Fareham Heathens marched on in the competition by beating Worth Old Boys 34-5 and Petersfield chalked up 29 points at Farnborough without reply. Nomads' clash with Fordingbridge was postponed.