ALL the promise and expectation of Hampshire Rugby 2002 failed to materialise as they timidly crashed out of the Tetley's County Shield in the pool stages with barely a whimper, losing 32-17 to a more impassioned Berkshire side.
An inspired performance from Berkshire's former London Welsh fly-half Craig Raymond, who controlled the game with all his vast experience, allowed Hampshire nothing but scraps at Havant Rugby Club.
But the hosts were also party to their own downfall, attempting too much and trying to emanate the successful sequences of seven days previous at Leicestershire. That formula was never likely to succeed against a side keener and quicker than the Midlanders.
Four first half penalties from the Tadley-based captain Raymond already had Hampshire searching for answers, but none were forthcoming as his boot kept the home side at bay and they fumbled much of the ball they had.
Stand-in Hampshire skipper Phil Osman, leading the side in place of the watching broken nose victim Rolf Stratford, replied with a single penalty before flanker Mark Muller benefited from a lapse in the defence to saunter over unhindered for the opening try.
It was Raymond again who furthered the lead after the break, when he commenced on a weaving run, first one way and then the other, following Brian Asuncion's knock-back from a 22 drop out finding no-man's-land.
As Hampshire went from bad to desperate, Raymond crossed for his side's second try.
At 22-3 down, Hampshire finally put together a passage of play that was reminiscent of their best. Phil Osman's flighted pass found brother Russell in the centre to score under the posts, which the creator converted.
An Andy Short try with three minutes left on the clock, following England under-18 starlet Neil McGovern's fine break from deep in his own defence, gave Hampshire a glimmer of hope.
But scrum-half Jeremy Flynn nailed the Twickenham dream coffin shut with an injury time try, which Raymond, with exuberance, converted with a sevens' style drop-kick.
Asked whether he thought his side were dreadful, Hampshire coach, Simon Morgan, said: "I don't think it was that good. We picked a very bad day to play poorly.
"Take nothing away from Berkshire, they played the game exactly right. Raymond sat back in the hole and kicked us to death. But we just did not get going.
"No-one had a good game, everyone had average games. The line-out did not work at all, the scrum disintegrated and the backs dropped a lot of ball.
"We showed glimpses of what we were capable of, but then sat back and did not do it. Everyone is very disappointed after doing so well at Leicestershire, to return home and play like that."
HAMPSHIRE: O'Rourke (London Wasps), Barnes (Havant), R Osman (Henley Hawks), Rowledge (Alton), McGovern (Havant), P Osman (Reading - capt), Jones (Havant); Jack (Havant), Hocking (Winchester), S Collins (Basingstoke), C Collins (Andover), Ramus (Tottonians), Short (Havant), Treacey (Clifton), Wilding (Andover).
Replacements: Raubenheimer (Havant) for Wilding (38mins), Asuncion (Andover) for Jack (40mins), Forster (Portsmouth) for C Collins (59mins), Tart (Havant) for Hocking (64 mins). Ashwin (Winchester), Rees (Basingstoke), Law (Alton) not used.
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