WHILE the Basingstoke v Winchester game was a typical local derby, so too was the one at Dolphin Crescent where honours were shared between south-east Hampshire's London Division Two pair.
But, according to both Gosport coach Mark Wells and Portsmouth's Director of Rugby Nigel Morgan, it should have been comfortable Gosport win, given the amount of possession the peninsular side enjoyed.
In fact, Portsmouth led 6-3 going into the last ten minutes, before a chip ahead foiled Neil Styles at full-back and Gosport scored.
But the black and gold struck straight away through a similar move, as centre Matthew Gronow left four Gosport defenders in his wake to tie the scores.
Brit Pearce's side had chances to win the game late on, but Morgan was relieved to have come away with a point. He said: "On the balance of play, Gosport should have won.
"In the first half, they had so much ball it was untrue. So, to be honest, a point is a good result considering we should certainly have not have won the game."
Wells was left flat by the score. He said: "It was a typical, fiercely contested game. We had the lion's share of possession, but lost the idea of how to convert possession into points.
"It was a game that could have gone either way, but so say it wasn't a fair result would be unfair. I think everyone is a bit flat with the result."
Havant's lead at the top of London Division One is now five points, following their tremendous 35-17 victory at Norwich; the first time the East Anglians have lost at Beeston Hyrne all season.
And it was a welcome return for place-kicker Syd Claffey, who returned to action for the first time in over two months with a 20 points haul, which alongside other results has given the Hooks Lane side a healthy gap at the end of the first half of the season.
Coach Dave Cook was delighted. "We have every reason to be pleased with what we have achieved during this first half of the season."
Tottonians easily accounted for fourth-placed Farnham but still dropped to third in the table, with Barnes overtaking them on points difference; the Surrey club walloping Warlingham 55-0.
In a match which Totts controlled throughout, the plaudits went to winger Steve Broomfield, who capped a virtuoso performance with five tries, leaving just one for Guy Tonkins in the six-try success.
"It was a very good performance," said captain Miles Northover. "Barring a couple of silly mistakes, which gave them their points and kept them in the game.
"However, we always had the upper hand, especially in the second half when Farnham barely crossed into our half as we tightened up."
Trojans returned with heads held high, despite going down 58-3 to champions-elect Richmond in south-east London, to the point of not conceding anything for 30 second-half minutes.
James Pennington's drop-goal gave T's a tenth minute lead, but Richmond ran riot in the 15 minutes before the interval and ten afterwards to rack up 51 points, before they scored again in injury time.
"We played very well," said coach Richard Cheal. "To play like that in their own back yard was excellent.
"In fact, they were arguing amongst themselves late on which was pleasing to see, as the lads had frustrated them with some good play. While I am never happy to lose, we didn't capitulate, and that is a good result."
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