Eastleigh's lack of continuity with the ball in possession was their main downfall as they went down on their trip across the Solent to Ventnor, despite scoring three tries, the same as the hosts.

In fact, it was a bad day all round for mainland Hampshire clubs with just Fordingbridge carrying the flag for the county, as Fawley, Stoneham Park and Kingsclere all slipped out to Sussex or Dorset opposition.

Ventnor were the more solid in the second phase play, an area where Eastleigh faltered and although the visitors were the stronger in the lineout and set-scrums, the home side had Leighton Bryant to thank for kicking their goals and taking them into the third round.

Dave Craddock, Peter Noonan and the returning Joe Butler crossed for the Bishopstoke club, while Seamus Noonan added just one conversion. "We are missing key players like Arnie Payne and Paul Turner in the back row," felt club chairman Brian Russell-Taylor.

"The backs were useful, with Craddock the pick of them, but in certain areas we are lacking and we must fix that soon."

Fawley spent much of the 80 minutes in defensive mode, so it was no surprise to skipper Andy Headley that they lost 8-0 - a fine effort given the amount of defending they had to do.

Headley was certainly not downbeat and always said that the game was a chance to view Lytchett Minster ahead of their league meeting on Saturday next. "We didn't look like scoring but it has given me a few ideas for the return visit," he said.

But he is concerned about the lack of success on the road. "We are not weaker or anything like that when we go away, it just seems we cannot get the journey out of us. We were exactly like that this week as well."

Rob Sallows' twin tries eased Fordingbridge to a superb 23-8 win over Portcastrians, made better by the absence of nearly half the regular first-team at a team-mate's wedding ceremony.

It was a particularly pleasing result over the combative Dorset side, who had viewed Fordingbridge play earlier in the season. "It was one of the best performances of the season," said Nikki Stockley, the Fordingbridge club spokesperson.

Stoneham Park's reinstatement to the competition was not a pleasant one as they were defeated by Sussex Police 39-5, just two points different to their first round scoreline loss to Overton, where they gained just a penalty, while Kingsclere, Hampshire's other representatives, fell 17-16 to Midhurst.