Friendlies were the order of the day for the majority, as last minute preparations were taken ahead of the start of the competitive league campaigns in the Hampshire Leagues in a fortnight.

Eastleigh triumphed over Ellingham & Ringwood 27-10 in a game which both sides will take a considerable amount from ahead of their tough campaigns.

While Eastleigh were stronger in the scrummage, Ellingham & Ringwood made impressive strides in the loose, which encouraged skipper Dick Birch.

He said: "It was disappointing to lose our first game, but it was important to play against tougher opposition. We learnt about our strengths and areas we need to develop."

However, Eastleigh, without their younger players on a tour, dominated much of the game as they posted five tries to two in recording another pre-season victory.

Fawley and Isle of Wight were embroiled in a thrilling friendly at Holbury, which the hosts snatched 26-25. Lee Haysman's brace of tries, coupled with three conversions of Fawley's four tries was enough to see the Watersiders to victory.

Skipper Andy Headley was pleased with his charges: "It was a good game for us, especially as we have a tough cup game next week at Nomads before the league starts."

Hampshire Two side Fordingbridge accounted for higher league opposition in Hamble at Satchell Lane in a four-quarter 'training' game 27-20.

Phil Collier's double set the Foresters on their way, while Hamble, using the game as a warm-up for their meeting with Southampton next week, even allowed one of their players to switch sides, to their detriment as he scored the winning try.

Millbrook hammered Andover II by 49-12 in a hastily-arranged friendly, with Richard Wyre, in his first game of the season scoring after just 20 seconds of the game.

Millbrook manager, Alan Day, said: "I was not very impressed by our performance, although we played better than we did last week."