THEY may have started slowly, but Tottonians are charging towards promotion from London Division Four South-West after they beat one of their main title rivals, London Irish Amateur 15-5 to keep themselves four points clear and unbeaten.

It was a terrific performance from Ali Ramus' side after they fell behind to a fifth minute try, before shutting out the lively Irish with some good use of the boot and some clever movement in the backs.

A quickly taken tap to release winger Richard Buck in the corner just before the interval followed Paul Goodall's penalty, and it gave the visitors the lead they did not relinquish and did not look like doing so as they dominated the second half as darkness gathered.

Irish defended tremendously to keep the relentless Totts at bay but they could not prevent Goodall from going over midway through the period when he snapped off the back of a scrum and broke through for the match winning score.

With all the changes in personnel from last weeks Cup reverse, this was another outstanding result for the Totton-based side and to have reached the mid point of the season without a loss is a creditable effort and one which has championship written all over it.

Trojans could have done them a huge favour by beating Farnham, but they were bullied by the Surrey side's combative front five and had to settle for a 29-17 defeat, but coach Richard Cheal was far from disappointed, feeling his side were more than a match in the backs.

Leading 10-5 at the break after Tristan Allen's try, they were knocked down by conceding a penalty try and irritated by the penalty count against them. Skipper Ollie Joicse got one back for the hosts but it was not to be enough. "Farnham play the old-fashioned ten man rugby game," said Cheal. "But we were equally better than they were in the backs and all in all, it was a good game but we just got out hassled up front."

Poor old Southampton are in serious danger at the bottom of the table and their cause was not helped in any way by losing at home to Old Emanuel, despite having the lions share of possession and territory.

Dave Griffiths' two drop goals was all they took from the game and that must have disappointed skipper Tony Cador, who still refuses to be flustered by his side's downtrodden form. With a trip to Tottonians next week, they are likely to go into Christmas with lots to consider.

"It was a case of not turning pressure into points," comments Griffiths, "but we had enough possession and territory to score, but it just did not happen."

Winchester, once again, belied their league position to overturn Canterbury and take themselves off the bottom of the table to be replaced by Cheshunt, but they had to withstand a ten minute second half spell with just 13 men before holding on to victory.

Dan Waddington crossed for the Nuns Road outfit and Andy Ashwin collected one of each with the boot - a conversion, penalty and drop-goal - as they gained the vital points for both sides.

Just two points separate six sides at the bottom of London One and this is something coach Mike Marchant is very aware of. "We have a game at Harlow next week, which we have to win," he said. "Our defeat to them at home last month still rankles, so we need to go there and get those points back.

"But this was an amazing game, which was much harder than those against Southend, Thanet or Harlow earlier in the season, but we played well and produced a positive performance, which was pleasing."

However, Andover were clinically mauled by Two South leaders Worthing in what their coach described as "our best we have played this season." Visitors coach Keith Mitchell, who felt they were the best side they had played this year, agreed with those comments.

But travelling without broken collarbone victim Sam Froggett and Dave Sussex, who damaged his knee at work on Friday, did not help and after a horrific first-half which saw them go 39-0 down, Andover hit back well in the second to restrict the hosts to three converted tries.

"We were hoping to go up there and not drop our recent good play standard, but we have a little bit, if only in confidence level," felt Mitchell. "Their defence was awesome and we were outclassed in all departments."

The same could be said of Alton, who were on the receiving end of another Richmond crushing in Three South-West. Despite Tony Watson giving them an early penalty lead, they could do nothing but watch as the conquering Surrey side trampled them 83-8.