An injury-time try from former Romsey captain Darren Sharpe saved his side's unbeaten record in Hampshire 1 as Fareham Heathens came within a whisker of picking up a sensational victory before being edged out by a single point, 25-24.
Although the visitors outscored their hosts by four tries to one, Heathens led 23-19 through Australian debutant John Caulfield's try and six Andy Hopper penalties with time almost out before Sharpe's late, late show.
But Romsey, who moved into second behind New Milton & District in the log with this result, were reduced to 14 when prop JJ Barber was dismissed for retaliation in the first half, scored three tries with lesser number and felt vilified the result went their way in the end.
Heathens captain Mark Steward was caught in two minds as to his reaction. "As the saying goes 'great show but no cigar'," he mused.
"This was probably our best performance to date but coming away with nothing is disappointing."
Injured Romsey vice-captain Chris Geyton said that Heathens played well but that his side had rallied well on being down on numbers and considered four tries to one to be enough to take the points.
"We couldn't string a set of phases together but scoring three tries with 14 on the park was a good effort on our part - even though the referee did neither side any favours," said the watching prop.
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