After an absence of three years, Havant have regained their National League status in the most comprehensive of styles, running in 11 tries in a celebratory 65-3 crushing of fourth placed Norwich.

Basking in the sunshine and the carnival atmosphere that saw nearly 1,000 spectators in the stand and around the ground, Havant treated them to a display that had many stating it was the best they had seen from the Hooks Lane side in years.

A tight first quarter, in which the weakened Norwich side proved they were keen to show they were not here to lay down, opened out into Havant throwing the ball around and enjoying the glory of the championship as the game progressed.

With the wind at their back after the break, they produced a performance that was breathtaking as it was flowing.

Jon Barfoot, Adam Jewitt and Dave Jones all grabbed two tries each.

Coach Dave Cook was ecstatic. He said: "We played very well and opened them up, expressing ourselves the way we know how.

"I wanted the lads to go out and not to freeze like the Havant side did at Aspatria in 1993.

"It was great to open the door and see them get out there and play.

"They have worked very hard for their success and they deserve it.

"We had targets every year since we got relegated and they have been achieved in each season.

"It is a great feeling and we can go to Haywards Heath next week relaxed and enjoy the show."

Basingstoke will now have to battle their way through a play-off with the runners up from South West One, either Barnstaple or Dings Crusaders, after securing second place in London One with a 42-3 beating of Winchester.

The cathedral city side must now hope their opponents can win this game, to stave off the feat of relegation themselves. A win for Basingstoke in the play-off may save them.

Portsmouth have set up a winner-takes-all encounter with second-placed Canterbury next week by defeating local rivals Gosport & Fareham in an scrappy game by 27-15, which was marred by a freak injury to prop Dave Thomas.

Thomas broke his arm as he tackled his opposite number Simon Burns in the first half, and he will miss the crucial trip to Kent, which will weaken Portsmouth.

It was far from a pleasant game, although Director of Rugby Nigel Morgan admitted there was some good passages of play from which the league's leading try scorer, Tom Sumner, added another brace to his already impressive tally.

Gosport, whose minds are being focused towards Twickenham in a fortnight, led 10-8 at the break but the wind helped the home side take the points.