After an absence of a month, Romsey regained the leadership of Hampshire One, knocking the previous recipients, New Milton & District, off top spot.

It was always likely to be, and certainly as it transpired, as stormy a game as the weather that skirted the ground. The thunder and lightning was not only contained to the Solent coast, but was apparent at the Ashley Sports Ground too.

But it did not boil over totally, despite two players being sent to the sin-bin, including New Milton captain Matt Rule for the alleged use of the boot. His absence reduced the hosts to 14 for the last ten minutes of the game as they tried in vain to battle back.

New Milton were left to rue the two penalty misses from normally dependable Watcyn Lewis within the first eight minutes of the game. An advantage like that in a game of this magnitude would have put Romsey 'behind the eight ball' very early on.

With the game already matching up to it's billing, referee Richard Showan was being kept busy, but with the aid of Ian Davies, who turned up to watch on his way home from a cancelled trip to Isle of Wight II and ended up touch-judging, they culled any potential incidents.

There were three distinctive periods of this top-of-the-table clash. New Milton & District made the best of the opening 20 minutes before Romsey struck back and dominated the play for the next 40. As they pulled away, Milton left themselves with too much to do as time ran out.

Lewis gave Milton a second-minute lead through a penalty, but his two subsequent misses from relatively simple chances let the visitors off the hook. However, they did stretch their lead with Romsey reduced to 14 when Paul Double was sin-binned.

Rob Mangles ran around full-back Ricky Everingham to take the final pass wide out on the left and when Lewis superbly converted from the touchline, the vocal visitors were quietened as New Milton looked to step up another level. It was not to be, though, as Romsey pegged the home side into their 22. They missed a clear-cut chance when Stuart McCormick's pass went to ground with an overlap on hand, but Nick Roach pounced on the loose ball on the half hour and drove through the defence for a good score.

Ellis converted to slice the arrears to just three at the break and when Matt Bellis was involved in a catch and drive move upfield some 20 metres early in the second period, New Milton were struggling to contain the unbeaten Sports Centre outfit.

The drive resulted in Phil Heaven emerging on the loop after Grant Oughton's crash move to add a second try and Romsey did not look like relinquishing their advantage. They didn't - and another drive in the mud saw Richard Dollimore run to the line.

New Milton were not done for, but chasing the game, they were turned over twice near the Romsey line and the danger cleared, which set off jubilant celebration - this result meant a lot to the visitors as they regained top spot.

New Milton skipper Rule admitted that Romsey deserved their victory. "They were the better team on the whole as they wanted it more. We just left it too late to come back, but should have led 16-0 after half-an-hour and that would have made a difference.

"It is not a back to the drawing board performance, but I am disappointed that we let our gameplan go. We did not compete well in midfield, but we have them again in a month's time at Romsey, so we will look to redress the balance then," said the Army man.

Romsey's coach, Brian Musk, was naturally pleased for his team. "New Milton came out firing on all guns early on but once we weathered that storm, the experience of our side told and we came back strongly."

"I am delighted we are back top of the table - especially with the home Guernsey game still in hand."