Trojans are finally off the mark – and more importantly off the foot of the table.

The first XV returned to their Stoneham Lane base after a much-needed morale-boosting 21-15 success at Sandown & Shanklin.

The visitors made good use of the sloping pitch and strong wind with Simon Greenhalgh touching down after 15 minutes from a strong driving maul.

Trojans increased their advantage with a Will Purkiss penalty and went 15-0 up before the break when Edouard Whyte hacked a ball forward and chased up to touch down.

The sides claimed a penalty each before Sandown produced a couple of tries and a conversion.

A third Purkiss penalty gave Trojans a six-point lead that they protected well through great defence and strong attacks.

The result was extra sweet for Trojans’ Mark Amey who was playing his 100th game for the firsts.

New Milton kept themselves in the leading pack with a win over Old Mid-Whitgiftian.

The home side out-scored their opponents five tries to two but were made to sweat, eventually winning 25-18.

Milton dominated in the scrum and lineouts and were 15-10 up after 40 minutes – Ben Smith getting a couple of tries and wing Owen Hymers touching down from a Chris Conacher break.

Sam Bew struck for Milton after the interval but back came Whitgiftian to add to their two first-half successes with a try and penalty.

Milton secured victory after another Conacher break led to a ruck, with man of the match Dalton Thomas charging through with the final touch.