Portsmouth strengthened their position in the London Two South promotion shake-up with a domineering win over local rivals Gosport & Fareham, who drop back into the relegation zone.

The damage could have been considerably worse for the off-colour home side, who tossed away their unbeaten home record meekly, as they trailed 33-3 just six minutes into the second half.

Portsmouth scored just one try late in the game but with the game firmly in the bag, they took their foot off the gas when they could easily have humiliated their neighbours.

A brace of Matt Gronow tries sandwiched three Neil Styles penalties as the visitors dominated all phases of the contest - a Dane Smallbone penalty ensured that Gosport were not scoreless before the break.

Gronow completed his hat-trick four minutes into the second period after Craig Stuart has raced over from the restart and Portsmouth were cruising to their largest derby win for many years.

However, they went off the boil, allowing Matt Smith to cross following a blocked Mike Vine clearance but Ogi Ofuasia the cherry onto the Portsmouth cake - a result that keeps them second, five points behind Guildford.

Gosport's director of rugby Simon Burns was strongly critical of his side. He said: "We had a game plan and just did not stick to it.

"When you don't, this is what happens. They were always on the front foot and we were always on the back. You can not pick a game plan, not play to it and expect to win against a side like Portsmouth."

Portsmouth's rugby manager Nigel Morgan said: "We should have scored a lot more but that was the worst Gosport side I have seen in a very long time."

l Played nine, lost nine - the Reading hoodoo just goes on and on for beleaguered Havant, who lost precious ground on the leading pair in National Three South.

In a poor performance, Havant allowed the lowly Berkshire men to score four tries, for just the second time this season, in returning a 29-22 scoreline that stunned the visiting faithful and delighted the home support.