New Milton & District have booked their place in the third round of the Powergen Intermediate Cup with a sensational home victory over Trojans, who play a level above them in the league ladder, thanks to a virtuoso performance from their scrum-half Watcyn Lewis.
The Welshman helped himself to two tries and two penalties, a tally of 16 points, which guided the New Foresters to a 21-10 success, which they fully deserved.
Although Lewis scored the majority of the points - Steve Broomfield added the other try - coach Norman Cracknell was especially praiseworthy of his front five in the scrum and picked out the Hampshire under-20 prop Paul Eveleigh, Gary Brooks and Russell Early for particular mention, whom he described as "magnificent".
"The whole side performed superbly," he continued. "I believe Trojans underestimated us, but we are playing well and this result may make a few people sit up and take notice of us."
However, Trojans coach Richard Cheal was frustrated and disappointed with his side, who he considered "showed no passion, no commitment and no desire".
He added: "We played like idiots."
Russell Clarke scored their two consolation scores, the second on the final whistle, but Cheal, whose side have not won in the league as yet lamented "this was the ideal opportunity to get some confidence in before the league restarts next week.
"If we had played anything like we did at London Irish last weekend, then we would have won easily. But we didn't and we are a shadow of the way we were before. I am beginning to wonder whether I am wasting my time because I do not know what my side want to achieve."
Tottonians' 45-5 victory over Sandown & Shanklin was marred by a serious ankle injury to their captain Miles Northover, who was forced off the field just before the interval and is extremely doubtful for the crunch league game at leaders Farnham next weekend.
With a less than full strength side, with that Farnham game very much in mind, Totts did enough to close out the Hampshire One islanders. Vice-captain Ali Ramus helped himself to a hat-trick with a brace after the break when the game was already bagged at 26-0.
"We were pretty poor," admits the hat-trick hero. "But all we really wanted to do was get through the game with a win and not record any injuries. Unfortunately, we did the job and came away with the win but not without a casualty."
A vastly improved performance allowed Portsmouth to get their season back on the rails, but they were given more than a game by the Sussex Division One strugglers Crowborough, despite the comprehensive looking scoreline of 53-7.
Anthony Lintern, their recent signing from Petersfield via Winchester, marked his debut at fly-half with a 23-point haul, including two well-taken tries to join wingers Matthew Gronow and Tony Russell in the brace apiece club.
But coach Ian Chandler was impressed with their visitors. "Quite how they are struggling in Sussex Division One is beyond me," he felt. "They had a big pack who gave ours a bit of trouble, but the return of James Pegler and Matthew Howard in the back row gave us a real balance.
"Mike Vine returning at scrum-half was also a massive boost to us and now we have got a win, we must take this back into our league programme, starting next week."
Elsewhere, Petersfield bowed out at Brighton, who have been boosted by the recruitment of former Irish prop Gary Halpin to their squad. He single-handedly dominated the forwards in leading his side to a 37-14 victory.
Bognor upset the form book by overturning Alton at Anstey Park by the narrowest margins, while Bournemouth are in the midweek draw following a hammering of Ivel Barbarians by 59-10.
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