HAMPSHIRE stand a win away from a Twickenham final after beating Somerset in their final County Shield pool match at Basingstoke on Saturday.

The 23-19 win means Hampshire topped their group and now meet pool three winners Oxfordshire at Down Grange this Saturday in a southern semi-final.

The winners will go to Twickenham seven days later for a final against either Northumberland or North Midlands, who contest the northern semi-final at Tynedale RFC this Saturday.

Hampshire used three Basingstoke players in their win over Somerset. Steve Buttle, who the week before made his county championship debut at the age of 43, was joined by clubmates Simon Appleby - also making an impressive county championship debut - and Matt Evans.

A home win looked unlikely in the first half when Hampshire struggled for possession, particularly in the scrums, and few of their passes went to hand.

Somerset, starting with the wind in their favour, dominated and were 8-0 ahead after five minutes. Fly-half Geraint Lewis kicked a penalty to open the scoring after three minutes but was unable to improve Mike Heyns' try two minutes later after a Hampshire knock-on gave Somerset a scrum in the home 22.

Tim Osman, one of four brothers in the home team, cut into the deficit with a penalty after eight minutes but Somerset went further ahead when Lewis then found himself in space to drop a goal after 20 minutes.

Another of Hampshire's Osman brothers, Nick Osman, made a break that allowed wing Derek Aldridge to run in from the 22 for the first of two home tries after 37 minutes.

Tim Osman's conversion put Hampshire within a point of Somerset but another Lewis penalty in stoppage time gave Somerset a 14-10 half-time lead.

Hampshire then tightened up and eliminated most of the errors that spoiled their first half. They used the wind well to gain territory and Tim Osman, Hampshire's trump card, kicked a penalty after 47 minutes to close the gap to a single point again.

Hampshire were still not in control and they benefited from an interception in midfield which allowed Tim Osman and openside flanker Appleby to show their paces before being awarded a penalty try for a deliberate knock-on.

Tim Osman's conversion gave Hampshire the lead for the first time after 50 minutes but the lead was reduced to a single point 13 minutes later when Somerset flanker Johnny Gordon went over from a five-metre lineout.

The Somerset effort then tailed off and Osman put the icing on the home cake with another penalty after 70 minutes.

Hampshire president John Sneezum praised the debut of Simon Appleby, but said: "Somerset didn't get the win their front five deserved."