The London Division 2 South title race was virtually reduced to a three-team battle as Portsmouth literally threw away a golden opportunity to keep their chances alive.

Crass indiscipline left them far too much to do to beat leaders Worthing.

Having crushed them at home 26-10 just seven days previously, visiting Portsmouth lost their composure and had three players sin-binned for petty offences. They were penalised ten metres for back-chatting nonsense no fewer than six times.

It was not as if they did not know about the Kent official - he refereed Gosport & Fareham's match with Tunbridge Wells the previous week and the peninsular side warned their rivals to stay on side - but they seemingly ignored the advice.

Their reduction in numbers allowed the hosts a 22-7 lead before Portsmouth got their act together and, through another brace from Matthew Gronow which lengthens his leading league try-scorer position to ten, put themselves into a winning position.

However, a drop-goal with 15 minutes remaining was all that separated the two teams although Andy Saunders, the fourth-choice kicker, could have levelled the scores with a last-gasp penalty, but his kick shaved the upright.

"We threw it away," an exasperated Chandler commented. "Our indiscipline gave them the game and now, in all honesty, we are playing for third place as it will be a miracle if two of Worthing, Tunbridge Wells or Gosport lose two or more games.

"But, with 20 minutes to go, we could have won as they looked nervous when we came at them and we had already ripped them apart in the backs. It was basically our own faults for losing the match."

Gosport & Fareham would have benefited greatly if Portsmouth had won, but they are now two points adrift of Worthing after their game with Wimbledon became a casualty of the weather.

Andover's superb recovery since being trounced at Roundstone Lane in early December is steamrollering on as they buried their away-day hoodoo in emphatic style by dumping Effingham & Leatherhead 56-6.

It was an excellent victory over their former coach Simon Dear's new charges as lock Chris Collins helped himself to a hat-trick - and they will not hear the end of that at the Goodship Ground - while Fijian flying winger Tiko Viliamu grabbed a brace.

"We are on a bit of a roll now," said coach Keith Mitchell, who kicked 16 of his side's points, "and it is always nice to put one over on Simon as well."

With four victories from the last five, Andover have closed in on a comfortable mid-table sixth place - a far cry from their position cast adrift at the foot just two months ago.

London Division 1 table-toppers Southend were made to battle hard for the spoils by Winchester but still came away 21-5 victors from Nuns Road.

With a number of players missing, the margin of victory being restricted to just 16 points was a feather in the county capital outfit's cap and something from which Mike Marchant can further build upon as they look to climb away from the bottom end.

"We played very well," commented the coach. "There was plenty of spirit out there, especially against a side that we would have been written off against last month. It was a fair result and the scoreline flatters them, so I can only be pleased."

Ian Banks scored Winchester's sole try although Andrew Ashwin missed two penalties and the conversion that could have given the scoreline a more realistic flavour.