IN this most fascinating of seasons in Hampshire Division One where six clubs are separated by just five points at the top, Farnborough are back on top after they clinched a vital victory over previously unbeaten Romsey.

A try with just five minutes left on the clock was good enough for the county border side to steal the points and topple their visitors from their perch, although they do have a game in hand - the contentious re-arranged game with Guernsey on January 25.

New Milton & District could face the backlash of that defeat next week, but they are not in exactly great shape themselves having suffered a comprehensive beating by Guernsey 41-11.

That was their third defeat in succession that has seen them fall from leaders to sixth in the space of a month.

The crunch came minutes into the second half while trailing by eight points, when a loose pass when fervently attacking was snatched by the Guernsey attacker and he scooted for the breakaway try to leave them chasing the game even further.

"Guernsey were a very good, well drilled side," commented coach Norman Cracknell, "but we did not make the most of our opportunities when they came and will have to sort something out quickly if we are to halt this recent slip."

He does not feel, though, that his side are suddenly a bad one.

"I don't think the wheels have come off but we have got a puncture," he added.

"Maybe we are not quite as good as we thought, especially after the good start in the dry conditions.

"We need to get on the training ground and look to alter our style in the wetter conditions.

"But that is no excuse - we were just outplayed by a side that wanted it more."

Guernsey's next visitors to St Peter Port are the high-flying Fareham Heathens, who have flown into fourth place, just three points off the lead after yet another excellent performance in beating Sandown & Shanklin on the island 25-11, thanks to a stunning second half.

In a traditionally feisty game, Heathens kept their discipline in, what captain Mark Steward described as "in the face of some very questionable 'off the ball contacts'," and saw a brace from Trevor Illingworth and a farewell score from Australian John Caulfield stunt the Hurricanes.

"It is the result that counts and all involved were happy to maintain our great away form," he continued after the match finished in near pitch darkness given the amount of injuries that needed attention.

Next week's game, not withstanding the events of twelve months ago, should be an absolute cracker with the surprise element of promotion on both sides' mind.

The matter of survival was the main concern at Furze Lane.

And it was Eastleigh who claimed the points from the vital clash with Nomads in a closely contested match, but the visitors should have made the game safe much earlier.

Nomads skipper Adam Stanley gave his side an early lead but Arnie Payne replied instantly, powering his way over the line, which Seamus Noonan converted. Stanley cut the arrears to just one but Eastleigh were on the wrong side of the referee a number of times and wasted a number of good chances.

Nomads' strong defence was cancelling out their enterprise, although they could do little to prevent Noonan striking a penalty for the cause but they continued to spurn chances that would have moved them well ahead of the game.

Stanley's third penalty set up a tense closing but Eastleigh finished the stronger without scoring and new captain Paul Taylor recorded his first victory in charge of the young Bishopstoke-based side.

Hamble's troubles deepened further when they were forced to withdraw from their home fixture with Millbrook as early as Wednesday evening and they will fear the wrath of the league organisers once again.

A mixed Millbrook XV played an Eastleigh II instead and a hat-trick from Ian Copeland and eleven points from manager Alan Day saw them as easy 41-0 winners.