BOTH Millbrook and Romsey gleaned much from their final preparations ahead of the league season opener next week when the two met in a trial friendly.

Although Romsey won the match 31-19, scoring five tries to three, the home side took the opportunity to swap and change their line-up regularly to view as many players as possible.

Romsey, who travel to promoted Old Reigatian next week, had just five first team regulars on show and brought only 16 players but coaches Bryan Musk and Richard Wood were satisfied with what they saw with Mike Peace and Chris Gardiner impressing.

Musk was even pleased with the scrum, with their preparation in this department hampered by their machine being vandalised at the Romsey Sports Centre.

Millbrook, who scored through Mike Mulcahy, Dean Weaver and Paul Moschakis, let in some silly tries but managed to pull through without any injuries and are in good shape ahead of their opener with Nomads.

Nomads' preparations were not of the best as they were defeated in a four-quarters fixture at Eastleigh. Three tries in the third of the four accounted for the Portsmouth-based outfit as they fell 21-0 to the improving Hampshire Two club.

New Milton & District were caught in a Matthew Gronow whirlwind when they travelled to Havant Dolphins as the former Portsmouth winger trampled on the Foresters.

Gronow, who moved to the National League outfit in the summer, marked his debut with five tries as they hammered the weakened Hampshire One outfit 39-0 at Hooks Lane.