Trojans received the mauling that many clubs have come to expect at Chichester, but the game may also have revealed some good news.

The Eastleigh-based club’s coach, Barry Bridgman, reckons he has identified the squad best equipped to battle its way out of London 1 South relegation trouble.

Trojans lost 65-0 against the second-placed side but put in a performance that makes Bridgman optimistic for the second part of the season.

He said: “I’m very proud of the way the players stuck to it today, some playing out of position yet again, in atrocious conditions and up against the team second in the league.

“It would have been so easy to fold up, to hang their heads. But not one gave anything less than his all. In fact my Chichester counterpart praised the team very highly and said that he thought that their application and tenacity were better than any of the teams he had seen.

“He hoped we could turn things around enough to survive in this league.

“That’s all I need now, players who want to have a go instead of players who want to bale out because its all too difficult and I think I’ve found enough of them – from players who thought their first XV days might be few and far between to the youngsters who are eager to prove themselves at this level.”

The dismal wet weather may have even gone some way to favour Trojans but once again selection was disrupted the day before the match and they had three forwards on the bench.

Gosport & Fareham lost out 24-0 at Dover, Basingstoke kept on the tail of Chichester with a 20-5 home win over Old Colfeians while Havant’s match with Wimbledon was called off.

See today's Daily Echo for a full rugby round-up