SOUTHAMPTON are set to do battle with traditional rivals Portsmouth on the polo field!

Rarely seen in the east of the county, the socialite sport will be played out in front of an expected 400-strong crowd at a neutral venue in Titchfield, near Fareham.

Featuring junior England and New Zealand internationals, two teams representing neighbouring cities go head to head all for a good cause.

Organiser Peter Barfoot, hosting the match at his Great Posbrook Farm, hopes to raise funds for the The Andrew Seavill Benefit Fund, named after the former England international who was paralysed in a car accident at Christmas.

"It's something very different," said Mr Barfoot. "Polo is not a sport seen in Hampshire very often although we do have the New Forest Polo Club. It's more common in Cowdray in West Sussex, up in Windsor or Cirencester in Gloucester."

Half of the ticket allocation has already been sold for the match, which gets under way at 6pm on Saturday, June 24.

A percentage of the funds raised will also go towards supporting King Edward VI School, from Southampton, due to send a rugby tour to South Africa next month.

For tickets, priced £40 per car including four passengers, contact 01329 849378 or e-mail posbrookfarm@aol.com.