FOR the second successive match, injuries and unavailabilities cost Team Solent's B team a place in the Southern Men's League Division 1.

They finished an agonising half a point behind third-placed Hampshire neighbours Basingstoke & Mid Hants at Exeter having failed to unearth any steeplechasers or a B-string 5,000 metres man.

Nobody battled harder for the club cause than Chris Buller, who picked up a mass of points in the sprints, jumps and pole vault.

Thrower Mark Willis also did well after being drafted in from the C team, while Darryn Campbell played a part in Solent's two victories of the afternoon, winning the individual 400m in 50.5 and anchoring the 4x400m men to a 3.26.6 success.

Match result: Medway 138.5, Exeter 131, Basingstoke & Mid Hants 95, Team Solent 94.5, Herts Phoenix 70.

Team Solent performances:

100m: A 3 Nick Horton 11.3, B 2 Jon White 11.4

200m: A 2 Chris Buller 22.8, B 2 Chris Lawton 22.9

400m: A 1 Darryn Campbell 50.5, B 3 Jon White 52.2

800m: A 5 Ian Robertson 2.04.6, B 4 Matt Smith 2.11.3

1,500m: A 3 Ian Robertson 4.10.6, B 4 Matt Smith 4.43.6

5,000m: A 3 Steve Axon 16.46.0, B no competitor

110m hurdles: A 3 Danny Jackson 16.1, B 5 Stuart White 18.1

400m hurdles: A 2 Stuart White 57.8, B 2 Danny Jackson 58.0

3,000m steeplechase: No competitors

4x100m relay: 2 Team Solent (Horton, Campbell, Lawton, J White) 44.8

4x400m relay: 1 Team Solent (Lawton, J White, Buller, Campbell) 3.26.6

High jump: A =3 Chris Buller 1.55, B 5 Darryn Campbell 1.40

Long jump: A 5 Chris Buller 6.17, B 5 Chris Bull 5.26

Triple jump: A 5 Chris Bull 12.15, B 2 Chris Buller 12.10

Discus: A 2 Adam Richardson 37.94, B 2 Mark Willis 31.79

Hammer: A 4 Adam Richardson 26.30, B 3 Mark Willis 26.28

Javelin: A 4 Dale Brenton 44.91, B 5 Adam Richardson 28.79

Pole vault: A 2 Alex Beardsmore 3.30, B 3 Chris Buller 2.60

Shot: A 3 Adam Richardson 11.70, B 3 Mark Willis 10.20

Team Solent's C team also missed out in a close race for Southern Men's Division 4 West honours at Sandown.

They finished two points behind city rivals Southampton who were, in turn, two adrift of the host club Isle of Wight.

Match result: Isle of Wight 124, Southampton City 122, Team Solent C 120, Fleet 89, Winchester & District B 65.

Team Solent performances:

100m: A 1 Nick Wevill 11.6, B 2 Lee Remsbery 12.2

200m: A 1 Nick Wevill 23.7, B 2 Lee Remsbery 24.7

400m: A 1 Paul Yarham 51.8, B 1 Bryan Barnes 54.8

800m: A 2 Mike Gregory 2.07.4, B 3 Dave Sullivan 2.25.4

1,500m: A 4 Mike Gregory 4.47.2, B 3 Scott King 5.02.3

5,000m: A 2 Scott King 18.23.1, B 4 Peter Haynes 19.25.1

110m hurdles: A 1 Mike Coker 17.7, B 1 Adam Parsons 20.1

400m hurdles: A 1 Mike Coker 60.3, B 3 Peter Haynes 78.8

3,000m steeplechase: A 2 Dave Sullivan 11.51.4, B 2 Trevor Gregory 13.00.6

4x100m relay: 2 Team Solent (Remsbery, Wevill, Starkes, Barnes) 48.4

4x400m relay: 1 Team Solent (Starkes, Wevill, Barnes, Yarham) 3.38.5

High jump: A 4 Luke Remsbery 1.55, B 3 Nick Wevill 1.40

Long jump: A 4 Adam Parsons 5.79, B 4 Neil Starkes 4.55

Triple jump: A 2 Adam Parsons 12.29, B 3 Neil Starkes 9.52

Discus: A Roy Wood, B Peter Haynes

Hammer: A 4 Roy Wood 27.06, B 4 Paul Yarham 11.26

Javelin: A 5 Roy Wood 22.45, B 4 Trevor Gregory 16.96

Pole vault: No competition

Shot: A 4 Roy Wood 8.03, B 3 Trevor Gregory 6.96