IF four sides are relegated this season from Hampshire 1, then Sandown & Shanklin's win over Fareham Heathens may have given them the advantage in the battle against the axe.

Their 33-16 victory didn't do enough to move them ahead of their beaten opponents, but their games next week could not be more varied - the Hurricanes face bottom side Fawley while Heathens tackle champions-elect Petersfield.

Paul Charlson's side came up against a powerful Sandown side who clearly sensed the danger they may find themselves in, so they avoided the fluid Heathens forwards and dominated.

Tries from Charlson and Trevor Illingworth were Heathens' sum effort and they must hope they find Petersfield in as not a mercenary mood as they were to depleted Hamble, who were pow-erless to prevent a 21-try blitz and a record 117-0 defeat.

Without a collective of players through injury and unavailability, Hamble arrived with the bare bones of a side while Petersfield were in champagne mood as Neil Arnold, Matt Rogers and Charlie Mason grabbed hat-tricks.

The tally could have been more but for the conversions, with just six of the 21 being kicked. But Hamble did not stop running and "gave 100 per cent in adversity", said a Petersfield spokesman.

Millbrook found relegated Nomads resilient opponents, but broke them down eventually in the final quarter, triumphing 31-5 to secure their Hampshire 1 status for next season.

Turning around five points down, Millbrook controlled the second half with skipper Mike Mulcahy superb in all areas of the pitch, and scored a try to cap off a fine day personally.

Manager Alan Day praised his skipper but said: "The score flattered us. Nomads put up a good fight, while we didn't play well apart from Mike and Dean Weaver, who were excellent."

Southampton produced a rusty show in disposing of Fawley with a nine-try salvo, led by the impressive Alan Butler, who helped himself to four of them.

The windy conditions of Test Park did not help matters as the forwards played their part, but the backs found life harder in the tricky gusts.

Romsey prop and captain Chris Geyton scored his first try of the season in the penultimate game, but could not prevent his side going down 38-18 on the Channel Island to third placed Guernsey.

But the fourth placed side gave as good as they got for much of the game, and were disappointed with the scoreline, which they felt did not reflect the game as a whole.

In Division 2, New Milton were crowned champions on being nemesis side Isle of Wight 24-10 in a bitty game, while Fordingbridge made sure their mid-table position with a victory over doomed Overton.

And Hampshire under-20s powered their way into the Tetley's Under 20 County Championship semi-finals with an outstanding 45-3 win over Oxfordshire. They will play at home in the next round on April 28.