Only a collapse of the most mammoth proportions can stop Isle of Wight from claiming the Hampshire Division 2 title in the new year after their two nearest challengers crashed to shock defeats, while they sat in the warmth of home without a game.

After Portcastrians withdraw from their trip across the Solent on Friday evening, Fawley had the chance to turn up the heat on the leaders - but they were unable to take advantage and slid to a 10-5 reverse to second-bottom Ventnor.

Skipper Andy Headley was happy with the way his side played, but they were blown up for numerous penalties against them and it halted their flow, gifting the game to David Ball's strugglers.

"We played well, but you can only play as well as you are allowed to," said an unhappy Headley.

"On another day against Ventnor, the result would have been very different, but we have to put up with it."

Lee Haisman scored Fawley's sole points.

They stay second after Ellingham & Ringwood dropped to their fourth defeat of the season, this time 21-5 to emerging Fleet.

And Fordingbridge's wretched run has sent them trickling into the wrong end of the log as they were dreadful in losing 16-0 at Alresford.

Stoneham Park lost twice to Overton earlier in the season - in the Junior Vase and the following week in the league - but Tiernan Simmons's side avenged those results with an outstanding 23-15 win in the countryside of north Hampshire in Division 3.

A brace of tries from Andy Stride, alongside Steve Lines's two conversions and three penalties held the big Overton side, as they threatened on numerous occasions to mount a comeback.

But the result was made all the better by the fact Stoneham travelled with just 14 players.

"We did not have any props, just three hookers playing front row and there were two other pack members covering just in case," said Simmons.

"Without a full scrum, Richard Legge and John King swapped around, depending on whose put-in it was.

"It was a brilliant performance from all 14 players and we now go into Christmas with just one loss in our last seven games.

"When you are down, it is up to you to get back up again, and that is what these 14 lads did for Stoneham Park today."

Another amazing game saw Paxton Pumas and Verwood play out a very rare scoreless draw, despite the home side dominating the game for three quarters of the time.

But they were unable to cling on to the all-telling pass and Verwood were also suffering from the dropsies as the match descended in a scrappy affair, with knock-ons a plenty.

"If we could catch the ball, we would have won easily," said returning captain Richard Jones.