Guernsey Rugby Club invited local dignitaries to an opening ceremony for their new Garenne Stand that incorporated the top-of-the-table clash with Trojans at the Footes Lane Ground on Saturday.
The Channel Island club felt their guests were: "Those who care about the future of the club" - but they were well off the mark according to Trojans coach Pete Surtees.
He was furious, not with a result that saw his side well beaten 41-3, but with the soccer-style crowd reactions to four of his team being forced off the field through injury. All could be out for a considerable period.
"We were taking a lot of abuse," said a seething Surtees. "I appreciate they were opening their new stand, but that is not what rugby is about. Idiots shouting 'that's four down' and booing them for being injured - that is not on."
Surtees was not impressed either with the Guernsey players who left scrum-half Mark Sharpe, lock Grant Woods, hooker Steve LeBas and flanker Dave Strange all queuing for the treatment table - Sharpe being likely to be out for a couple of months after having his leg stamped on.
"It could have been such a good game," continued Surtees. "because Guernsey are a good side. But why they needed to revert to these kinds of tactics, I don't know. It was a very nasty game."
Sandown & Shanklin kept up the pressure on Guernsey with a 38-18 win over Millbrook to maintain their 100 per cent record, while Isle of Wight lifted themselves into third place with a 47-8 crushing of weakened Eastleigh.
A list of injuries and unavailability left the visitors depleted and the Islanders took full advantage, especially up front where they were physically dominant.
Despite the best efforts of Gareth Carson, Martin Kirby and Micky Holmes, the Wootton-based men ran up a 25-3 interval lead when former Romsey winger Richard Dollimore and Neil Emerson crossed alongside Phil Hemopo.
Eastleigh skipper Wayne Hayward scored a consolation when he intercepted close to his own line and sprinted the length of the field but the game was up, although his side still came away with heads held high.
Three non-Hampshire sides now occupy the top three places of Hampshire Division One by definition - Channel Islanders Guernsey and the Islanders Sandown & Shanklin and Isle of Wight club.
Fareham Heathens and New Milton & District shared a point, but the home side felt they gifted the New Foresters a lifeline and a point as they drew 12-12.
Two tries in the first half took Heathens well clear, but Milton scored a soft try and pinched the draw in the final minute thanks to some poor first-up tackling from the hosts that disappointed sidelined skipper Mark Dunning.
"Fortunately, they missed the conversion," he said. "There is still work to be done and we have improved but we should have taken both points."
Fawley are still in search of their first win, going down to Farnborough 31-13.
The clash at the top of Division Two went the way of Nomads who are clear at the top of the table after beating Lytchett Minster 17-8.
But Alresford made their intentions clear with a 42-0 mauling of winless Overton.
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