Winchester lost their say among the leading London 2 South-West sides when they were beaten at the weekend.

They tumbled down the table from fourth down to seventh after a much-changed side, due to injury and absence, returned from KCS Old Boys 18-15 losers.

They were 7-0 down after three minutes through missed tackles and went into half time 15-8 in arrears with Connor Breen kicking a penalty and Frank Bagnall crossing the line.

The signs were good for Winchester when KCS had a player binned for continual infringements and Breen converted a penalty try.

However the home side, much to their relief, held off late pressure from Winch to secure victory.

Coach Andy Fields said: “It’s an amateur game. People play it for fun and inevitably they can’t always be available. And it’s a physical one and people get injured.

“At this level, having the same team two weeks running is a rare luxury, and one we haven’t come close to yet this season. “Unfamiliarity breeds mistakes, and if we make as many mistakes as we did today, we must take the consequences.”

Andover recorded a second win of the season and inched their way closer to third from bottom Weybridge Vandals with a 37-0 success at lowly Basingstoke. Portsmouth lost out 28-20 at Old Reigatian and are fourth from bottom.