HAMPSHIRE matched mighty England yesterday with a brilliant victory on the famous turf of Twickenham.

The County Championship Shield final may not have been watched by as many supporters who had just witnessed England beat Wales but the 33-11 win will mean just as much throughout the southern county, writes Clive Downton from Twickenham.

A lot of international fans may have left the stadium but plenty of Hampshire, Staffordshire and neutrals stayed on following England’s 27-13 victory – one of four matches played at Twickenham on Sunday.

Full-back Charlie Maskrey had three early chances to put the Midlanders ahead but the penalties all went well wide.

Tottonians’ Pierre-Alex Clark made them pay for not turning pressure into points when he picked up a loose ball deep in his own half and sprinted down the field for the game’s first try.

Hampshire’s second try also came as they were defending in their own half –- this time Wayne Dugan broke free to race over. Bournemouth’s Alex Sutherland converted and they took a 12-0 lead into the break.

Staffordshire eventually got the try they had been threatening shortly after the break and then got to within a point of Hampshire with a couple of penalties.

However the fightback came to a halt when Wes Dugan went over for a try off the back of a scrum and the conversion restored an eight-point gap.

And the final moved strongly into Hampshire’s favour when Joel Knight juggled his way over and Robbie Searle converted.

Staffordshire were then finished off with a push over try following a line-out –- Number 8 Gavin Hart getting the ball over the line.

Delighted Hampshire president Ian Kerr, OBE, said: “It’s been a fantastic run through to this final beating several sides on the way –- just to make it here is really beyond belief.

“It’s been a great afternoon for Hampshire rugby and I am so proud of the blokes, I really am.

“It was a tough first half but there were little sparkles there and I thought ‘just open up’ and it did.

“I thought they were fantastic and there was never any question about the defence –- it was solid and it was stout and set the platform for a great win.”

Team manager Simon Burns said: “What a great win. Who would have thought that at the start? It’s been an amazing journey.

“I’m really pleased for the lads. T they defended really well in the last five minutes of the first half to nail them at 12-0 but they came back at us in the second half.

“They came to a point from us but then they tired and we hit them with three unanswered tries. It’s fantastic for Hampshire and fantastic for the players.”

Hampshire qualified for the final with three outstanding victories, beating Dorset & Wilts, Berkshire and then Warwickshire, just a week ago.

Squad: 1 Joe Tarrant (Bournemouth), 2 Ben Allman (Bournemouth), 3 Ken Dowding (Chichester), 4 Ali Ramus (Tottonians) , 5 Elliott Worrall (Ivybridge), 6 Joe Rees (Bournemouth), 7 Steve Cruddas (Havant), 8 Gav Hart (Havant), 9 Wes Dugan (capt) (Gosport & Fareham), 10 Pierre-Alex Clark (Tottonians), 11 Curtis Barnes (Portsmouth), 12 Joel Knight (Havant), 13 Robbie Searle (Tottonians), 14 Wayne Dugan (Gosport & Fareham), 15 Alex Sutherland (Bournemouth), 16 Ryan Wilkie (Portsmouth), 17 Luke Marks (Havant), 18 Darren Crabb (Portsmouth), 19 Graham Butterworth (Havant), 20 Harry Dolbear (Tottonians), 21 Jake Hiscock (Winchester), 22 Luke Chandler (Bournemouth).