The first of three crucial matches that will make or break Andover's season has passed - and no points gained as they fell to a disappointing 19-15 reverse at fellow strugglers Old Mid-Whitgiftian.

It was a defeat that has left them still second bottom of the log but, if the match lasted 81 minutes instead of the regular 80, they could just have sneaked it. They finished the game battering the Midwives line - but without success as time ran out.

Having dropped behind to two very early tries, Mick Cockings' penalty was followed by lock Chris Collins charging over from close range to reduce the arrears, which should have been minimal given the possession Andover enjoyed in the first period.

But too many errors, one of which gifted OMW a third score, cost them dear in the end, despite Nick Rowe going over with a minute remaining.

From the restart, Andover threw everything at the line, but it was not quite enough.

"We didn't get back in time," felt downbeat coach Keith Mitchell. "We just needed another score during the time we had all the pressure. They defended very well but this was a must-win game that we did not win and we have a fortnight off now to regroup and plan ourselves for the New Year."

Gosport & Fareham replied in emphatic style to their reverse at the Goodship Ground last week with a super-charged performance that crushed mid-table Cobham 34-0 and returned them firmly back on track.

With the forwards doing the damage up front, the backs benefited to the tune of five tries,winger Andy Vance cruising in for a brace while Dave Goddard and Steve Emm's scores were sublime.

Goddard, at pace from the centre, stormed his way to the line while Emm was released by Darrell Cooper's cheeky reverse pass which left him and Jonathan Wood in space to fly over.

"It was a terrific performance," commented club secretary Iain Rackham. "But it was the forwards that did the hard work, which allowed the backs to run and score the tries."

Only skipper Simon Burns' try broke the backs domination.

Portsmouth came from a 10-0 deficit well into the second half before claiming a narrow one-point win over lowly Wimbledon and they, alongside the other top-five sides, have started to break away from the rest of the league.

A converted try and a penalty put the hosts on top, before Mark Witcher was on hand to take Neil Styles's pass on the wing to finish off the flowing move and reduce the arrears.

Styles slotted a penalty before missing two relative sitters that would have moved Portsmouth well clear and they still trailed with minutes remaining when the skipper attempted another shot from near halfway - to the dismay and rounded criticism of his teammates, supporters and coaches!

However, he silenced them with a salute by hammering home the goal and ensuring they are still in the play-off race.

"We deserved to win the game, but made hard work of it," felt director of rugby Nigel Morgan.

Of the kick, he said: "Nobby Styles had missed some chances and no one thought he would get even close with this one."

In London Division Four South-West, Farnham's re-arranged 33-13 win over Old Emanuel has ensured that Tottonians' Christmas lead is just four points at the top.