Andover I 27pts, Dorking I 13pts

HSA sponsored Andover 1st XV took on Dorking at the Goodship Ground last Saturday knowing that a win would put them clear at the top of the London League Three (SW) from either Chobham or Cobham who were playing a local derby.

It was never going to be an easy game as Dorking were also enjoying an excellent run of league form but Andover after the previous week's superb showing were once again unconvincing at home.

Dorking bossed the game from the start and went ahead after a penalty was awarded for an infringement in open play. Andover at times seemed to be coasting and perhaps Marc Wilding's side believed that all of the hard work they had put in to reach the top of the league would be enough to get a result against a spirited Dorking side.

Andover were given the kick up the backside they needed when Dorking's powerful second-row scored a controversial try in the corner after 20 minutes when it looked as though he had been driven into touch before grounding the ball.

Finding themselves eight points in arrears Andover finally sprang to life with two scores in quick succession. Wing Mick Cockings finished superbly after No 8 Shane Corcoran made the initial break for the first try and when Danny Culley's weaving run pushed the visitors to their try line nothing was going to stop Corcoran for the second as he dived over from short range to put the home side in front.

Player-coach Keith Mitchell added the extras but it was Dorking who led at the break with them crossing the home line for a second time to score from a driving maul.

The restart enabled Andover to regroup and were soon pressing the Dorking line. To their credit the visitors held their line and withstood Andover's surges much to the home side's frustration.

The breakthrough finally came when a misplaced kick landed in the hands of Nick Rowe who finished neatly much to the relief of the home side.

With the game deteriorating into a battle of attrition between both sets of forwards, Andover did not play to their strengths and when Chris Reilly was sin-binned for an off-the-the ball incident, Dorking were once again given a life line.

Fortunately, Dorking were unable to take advantage of their numerical advantage and, in fact, had one of their own forwards received a yellow card after Mitchell had added three more points to the Andover tally from a penalty.

The game ended as a contest when Reilly returned and dived over in the right-hand corner to extend Andover's lead to 27-13.

The final whistle sounded much to the relief of the home following who had once again seen their side win unconvincingly at home and Dorking must fancy their chances against Andover in the return fixture as their heavy pitch will restrict the running skills of the Andover backs.

Andover have the luxury of a rest from the league this Saturday and can now focus on their next game, a tricky away trip to Old Blues, who hammered Andover in the same fixture last season.

Last Saturday's victory put Andover clear at the top of the table on points difference as Chobham surprisingly defeated Cobham - the first time in five games that Chobham have beaten their local rivals and put them on 12 points along with Andover.

Andover 1st XV: Cameron, Cowley, Asuncion; Wilding (capt), Bissell; Gittos, Culley (D), Corcoran; Mitchell (K), Culley (L); Cockings, Runciman, Rowe, Reilly; Maloney. Replacements: Bally, Kirk (K), Simmonds.

Andover II 3pts, Gosport & Fareham II 14pts.

HSA sponsored Andover 2nd XV due to player unavailability travelled to Gosport & Fareham with another much changed side with no less than seven new faces, and the disruption to the side proved to be their undoing.

Andover have the territorial advantage in the first half and with the pack rucking well put Gospot under enough pressure to force four penalties but all were missed.

The second half started in much the same vein. With Tony Worle and man-of-the-match Gordon Simmonds testing the Gosport defence throughout, Andover were finally rewarded with full-back Bruce slotting them ahead from a penalty. Gosport came back strongly and the pressure told with the visitors scoring the first of their two converted tries. Andover responded well as they took play within five metres of the Gosport line but it was not without cost as they lost Carl Borg-Neal after taking a blow to the head and Stuart McRae with a blood injury.

Matt Nolan made an immediate impact when he came off the bench to play at No 8 and they again took play to the Gosport line only for the chance to go begging after an unusual handling error.

Gosport then broke out to seal victory with a second converted try but home skipper Gordon Mitchell admitted that Andover had enough chances to have won, although all the changes to the side did not help the cause. "We'll take this week to reflect on the game and then we'll be back to put it right next week," he said.

Andover 2nd XV: Gooba, Baxter, Frazier; Smith, Parker; Szmytki, Rowe (S), Worle; Mitchell (G) (capt), McRae; Louis, Simmonds, Tedridge, Jones (A); Bruce.

Andover III 45pts, Gosport & Fareham III 27pts

ABC Cars sponsored Andover 3rd XV again fielded a much-change team but a determined start brought a well deserved try from Falti, the first of a fine brace from the veteran second-row in the twilight of his playing career.

Gosport made a come back in the second quarter made all the more easier by the number of silly penalties conceded but Andover's now legendary defence denied Gosport time after time before finally being breached by a rolling maul.

The second half saw Andover out played their opponents with Phill and Warren scoring three tries as they showed the pace and flair that Fijian players are famed for. Two further tries came from Ian Cook, who was on top of his game, and C Cutler and the kicking duties were shared by Kirk and Powell.

The final score was the most satisfying as the Andover back row pairing of Dave Eccles and Dave Sussex, who snuffed out so many of Gosport's attacking moves, were a joy to watch as they released the ball with remarkable ease to set up the opening.

Andover 3rd XV: Taylor (cpat), Batham, Leask; Knight, Falti; Eccles, Phill, Sussex (D); Powell, Cutler; Cook, Couch, Kirk (D), Warren, Solia; Hoo.