Romsey Sports Centre hosted it's own version of the Emmy Awards Rugby in the Powergen Junior Vase Round 1 on Saturday with three of the home side battling it out for the "Best Comedy Actor" award, writes Gary Banks.

Man-of-the-match Tim Darby came close to collecting the title with a comic mime after being out-witted by his opposite number.

The East Dorset number 8 sold him an outrageous dummy to gain an inside line before driving deep into Romsey territory.

Fly-half Nick Creal was unlucky not to be awarded the comedy gong having, Beckamesque, lost his footing when, attempting the conversion following Jerry Francis' opening try.

The kicker landed on his ample rear end, legs akimbo, much to the amusement of the assembled crowd.

Creal had earlier landed a simple penalty to start the scoreboard ticking.

Francis' opening try had stretched the lead and many thought that the afternoon would see a festival of tries and commanding rugby from the home side when the flying winger breezed in for a second after 20 minutes.

Right from the off Romsey had focussed attention on the dreadlocked East Dorset full-back; Creal hoisting high up-and-unders.

However, despite the pressure, East Dorset rallied well to defend their line, frustrating Romsey who seemed to be losing focus as the half wore on.

East Dorset also tried the arial bombardment route and, from one such occasion, Romsey full-back Chris Gardner earned himself the top comedy award.

Covering a speculative high kick from the visitor's fly-half and with the crowd shouting advice to "mark" the ball and relieve the pressure from the East Dorset drive, Gardner showed impeccable comedy timing by allowing the ball to bounce before advancing slowly to secure it to his chest.

Surveying all around and the advancing Dorset hoards he delivered his call of "mark" only a second before being pole-axed by three of the visitors. Despite the late rally from the visitors, Romsey held a 13-0 lead at the turn but were immediately put under pressure from the start of the second period.

In the same way that the Dorset full-back had been AWOL in the first half, so too was Romsey's defence in the early moments of the second. Three quickly taken tap penalties saw the visitors drive effortlessly through the Romsey ranks, crossing close to the posts to make the conversion attempt easy.

More shoddy play from the home side gifted the visitors a penalty in front of the posts which brought them to within three points of their hosts. Tighthead Rich Worley was forced to leave the field having sustained a rib injury and was replaced by the returning "Spider" Webb who seemed to bring with him coach Bryan With the arrival of Webb, Romsey took control up front.

An excellent break from the base of a scrummage on halfway saw Darby charge into the Dorset half, dummying a pass to open a gap before popping to scrum-half Sharpe who trotted in for the first of his brace of tries.

A knock-on from a scrummage turned the ball over to East Dorset but not for long as hooker Webb casually took ball against the head to regain possession. Sharpe picked up from the base, dummied his opposite number and blasted over for his second try. Creal converted.

With time running out and Romsey gained yards, driving deep towards the line.

Samuel, majestic as ever, had started the drive and was on hand to pick up at the final ruck, popping an expertly timed pass to Webb who crashed over in the corner. Romsey advance to the next stage of the Powergen competition where they will hope to improve if they are to better last season's effort.

In the second round, Romsey have been drawn away to Trojans.