THE narrow margin of Winchester's 22-3 home success against injury-stricken Millbrook was the only slight surprise in Saturday's Intermediate Cup second round matches.

Such a close game against opponents from a league four levels above their own speaks volumes for Millbrook's resilience.

Mark Vickers returned from first-team retirement for the hosts and marked his presence by scoring one of the early tries and being sin-binned for stamping. Rabe Abadom got Winchester's other early try out on the wing, but Millbrook tightened their defence and did not concede another score until the last ten minutes.

The first of these was a pushover try for Mark Hunter as Winchester drove Millbrook off their own ball just after Vickers had been sin-binned. Andy Ashwin improved the final try under the posts from Rob West just before Millbrook's Darren Renwick was dismissed for punching.

The early stages of the tie between Southampton and Andover were as enjoyable as any game this season, but then it all went pear-shaped. The second-half was as disjointed as the first had been fluid, with unpleasant incidents abounding almost from the restart whistle and one wishing for full-time before someone was seriously injured.

Southampton took the game to Andover early on and deservedly gained the lead when Darren Smith slotted a penalty, but woeful tackling allowed Chris Riley to score a try for Andover immediately afterwards.

Smith promptly regained the lead for the hosts, but Keith Mitchell improved a penalty try, then goaled a third try when Craig Runciman broke through more weak tackling. Mitchell consolidated Andover's lead with a snap drop goal shortly after a superb Southampton handling move had created a try for Paul Beaton converted by Smith.

Mitchell landed a penalty and converted a last minute Nick Rowe try shortly after Smith had claimed a second Southampton try in the quite disgraceful second-half. Andover won 35-18.

Tottonians progressed 31-13 at Romsey, although the latter started well and were only 14-3 adrift at half-time. Pete Ellis landed a drop goal in reply to an earlier Paul Goodall penalty, but two further Goodall penalties and a Spencer Scott try gave Tottonians their advantage.

This was increased by another Scott try and one for Goodall on the resumption, Scott's goaled by Dave Palmer, before Romsey rallied and themselves scored from close range through props Chris Geyton and J-J Barber. Victory was sealed for Tottonians by a late Andy Martin try.

Gosport & Fareham predictably trounced Hamble 86-5, but the latter deserve credit for playing the game after being reinstated in the competition at late notice. Hamble stuck at it but could not prevent fitter and more skilful opponents scoring 14 tries.

Gary Towse (4), Jamie Daly (3), Andy Milton (2), Steve Emm, Richard Lloyd, Gary Middleton, Paul Middleton, Mike Palmer (tries), Paul Morgan (6), Lloyd (2) conversions scored for Gosport, while Nic Amy got a consolation try for Hamble just before half-time.

Wimborne defeated Bournemouth 22-3 in their local derby tie, but Salisbury crashed 46-5 at Bridgwater Albion.