A positive rearguard action performance against some incessant Somerset pressure moved Hampshire to within just a single game of a visit to Twickenham and a return to the top flight of the County Championship competition.

Their 23-19 success put them into the semi-finals of the Shield, where they will meet Oxfordshire at Basingstoke this coming Saturday for the right to step out onto the hallowed turf of rugby's headquarters the following week.

But the manner of Hampshire's victory was one that they will take great pride from, as the West Countrymen caused countless problems in the set scrums and the home side was under the cosh for much of the first half.

It looked ominous for Hampshire when Somerset roared into an eight-point advantage within just four minutes of the start, but Tim Osman reduced the arrears with a penalty and a drop goal.

However, Hampshire were looking more competent in the loose and Petersfield captain Derek Eldridge raced away under the posts for a try, which Tim Osman converted after brother Russell had made a good break.

Somerset added another penalty to put them 14-10 to the good at the interval, but that was reduced to a single point from the opening salvo in the second half when Tim Osman hit a penalty, coming from Neil McGovern just losing the chase onto a kick-ahead.

With their tails up, Hampshire came forward strongly again and Russell Osman's break was continued to Liam Davenport, but his pass to Eldridge, which would have resulted in a certain score was illegally tampered with by a Somerset hand and the referee awarded the penalty try.

It put Hampshire ahead for the first time, but they had to endure a nerve-jangling final quarter, especially when the visitors responded with a try. However, Tim Osman made no mistake with his penalty. It was enough to secure the decisive victory.

Coach Roy Gittens was a relieved man. "We struggled a bit but a win is a win and I will take it. We did not play quite the way we had wanted and took too many wrong options at times."

As was his coaching partner, Simon Morgan, who had double the reasons to be delighted having seen his son Matthew follow in his footsteps into the county side.

"I thought we demonstrated tremendous team spirit today and played well against a strong side," he said.

The result means Hampshire have two chances of regaining their County Championship place for next season, starting with next Saturday's semi against Oxfordshire, who brought Dorset & Wiltshire's challenge to an end with a 34-15 away win at Swanage & Wareham.

Victory there will guarantee a bumper day out on May 24 and an automatic promotion, while defeat will leave them with a play-off against either Surrey or Kent away from home on Sunday May 25 for the right to join the top 16 counties in the country.