For the second time in succession, Portsmouth missed out on promotion in the one-off play-off clash, but the measure of the defeat was saddening as they left their best form back on the south coast.

After turning in a number of superb performances in reaching this position, they failed to produce the goods when it mattered, letting Old Albanians dominate where Portsmouth should have, and their three tries proved crucial

They remained within touching distance of their hosts through four Stuart McLaughlan penalties, three of which were long range efforts as Portsmouth played with a mighty gale behind them in the first half.

But two Albanians tries within the opening quarter put Ian Chandler's side on the back foot and they trailed 12-9 at the interval.

Full-back Ed Orchard, a former Portsmouth University student and friend to many of the opposition, killed off their hopes.

His try, from a long kick from defence moved OA's well clear, and he added insult to injury with a 60-metre penalty in the dying minutes to wrap up the victory.

Chandler fumed: "We were just not good enough. There was not enough passion for the game, certainly not enough for such a big game as this was."

Bournemouth-based Oakmeadians made no mistake second time around though and raced into South West Two East on the back of a 24-17 victory over Aylesbury.

Farnborough's wretched run of form of late haunted them in a big way as Surrey's Old Paulines thrashed the North Hampshire All Blues 63-5 in the Hampshire/Surrey One play-off at Tile Barn Close.

Some decidedly choice results in National Division Two conspired against both Havant and Winchester in their relative fights against the drop, sending both down.

With Havant making way in National Three South, Winchester also felt the brunt of the knock-on effect by falling into the Powergen London One trapdoor and into Two South, where Andover, Gosport & Fareham and play-off losers Ports-mouth will meet them next term.

On the plus side, Southampton's relegation fears eased as the three results from the five play-off games they needed for survival

materialised as Lydney, Haywards Heath and Barnes all won their respective promotions.

They finished just above the relegation line, as did Eastleigh in Hampshire Division One, courtesy of just the one county-based side, Trojans, coming down from London Four South-West.