THERE was very little to be played for in the Hampshire Leagues, with the promotion and relegation matters decided barring the play-off induced drops.

But Southampton, who have their own play-off in a fort-night's time against Surrey 1 runners-up KCS Old Boys, were not as convincing winners over Romsey as their 29-5 score suggests.

In front of representatives from the Surrey club, on a spying mission of their opponents, Southampton led just 8-5 with ten minutes remaining, until Matt Barlow was sent-off and Nick Creal sin-binned late on.

With just 13 in front of them, Saints scored three tries to give the tally an unrealistic look before the end; Ioan Raymond scoring twice. Dave Griffiths, who scored one of the four tries, confessed it was not the best of games, "It was scrappy, in which we took our chances and Romsey didn't, mainly due to a solid defence.

"There was a lot of individual effort put into the game but not a lot of team work."

Millbrook were also reduced in numbers before the end of their 22-10 win over Hamble, which ensured a fifth placed league finish, seeing prop Sonny Bedwell dis-missed midway through the second half.

But three tries to Hamble's one was enough to pick up the win, where Jim Brown and skipper Mike Mulcahy, both try scorers, excelled, while Shannon Passingham continued his ever increasing reputation.

Petersfield have been crowned Hampshire Division One champions as the league have decreed Fareham Heathens defaulted their fixture and awarded the Penns Place side the walkover.

With Sandown & Shanklin compounding Fawley's relegation- bound season with a 49-3 success, Paul Charlson's side must now wait to find out whether they are in for an instant return to Hampshire Two.

Going in the opposite direction with an impressive clos-ing victory are Eastleigh, who trounced Portcastrians 37- 0 to take their place in Hampshire One four points adrift of champions New Milton & District.

With the wind against them in the first half, Eastleigh, through the exertions of scrum-half Rich Andrews were well in the ascendancy. After the break, a period of unconvincing play opened out to a stream of tries.

England under-19 Student winger Tom Luke celebrated his birthday with a pair of tries, while Wayne Hayward, Martin Kilby, Wayne Rawlins and Colin McArdle wrapped up the comfortable win.

"If we could have had a little more control, it could have led to a really big score," said spokesman John Sneezum. "Young Rich Andrews suffered last week with the bouncing ball. Today, we did everything right."

New Milton's season ended with a bit of a whimper, as they eventually broke down lowly Fleet 24-13. They were weakened by some withdrawals late on Friday and "had a bit of a struggle," said winger Andy Williams.

Despite having all the possession, Milton were just hanging in at the end.

Matt Colein will want to for-get this season. His traumatic story continued, lasting just ten minutes this time.

Danny Oliver scored twice for the New Foresters, as they warm towards the hasty return to Hampshire 1.

With Kingsclere relegated, Isle of Wight treated their final game against the North Hampshire side as a chance to thank and bode farewell to a number of outstanding club servants by fielding them all.

Dave New, Dave Metcalfe and Steve Lucy have all announced their retirements, while Jacques van der Merwe is returning to South Africa and Alex Augustus is departing to college.

A full-flow first 15 minutes, where the Island side stamped their authority on the match ground to a halt late on and turned it into a good game, which they win 22-17, thanks to two tries from the departing South African. lose