TOTTONIANS will tick off another milestone in the club’s successful journey when they face Hampshire rivals Havant tomorrow.

Totts, formed in 1962, have always been the minnows in comparison to Havant RFC, who are nine years older, writes CLIVE DOWNTON.

And, until now, there have been plenty of divisions separating the two clubs following the introduction of the league structure in the late 1980s.

But in recent years Totts have steadily climbed up to London 1 South where they will now meet Havant who spent many years at National 3 level before dropping down.

Tomorrow Tottonians travel the short distance down the M27 as favourites in the sides’ first ever league clash – Tottonians sit sixth with seven victories to Havant’s three.

Hooks Lane will be familiar territory for a couple of the Tottonians players.

Regular centre Richard Buck spent a season with Hav while forward Ali Ramus was with them for four seasons.

Ramus, who returned to Tottonians in 2009, said: “When the fixtures came out I scrolled straight down the list to look for this one – I’ve so been looking forward to it.

“I enjoyed it at Havant and the standard of rugby there was great. We nearly got promoted to National 2 – the last season I had was a great one, I think we finished third in National 3.

“I had a great time and I don’t look back on my time with Havant with anything other than fondness.”

He added: “Tottonians has always been my preferred club – it’s just that I felt at that time I had some better rugby in me than what I could get there so I went away and came back again.

“I’m getting towards the end of a career that seems to have gone on forever and a day.”

At 38, Ramus is still a key player at the Water Lane club. He recently returned from a severe groin strain but believes he has a season or two left in him.

He added: “It’s not often I go into a game thinking there will only be one winner but I can’t see us losing it.

“The whole history of our rugby club has been spent looking up at Havant and now we are looking down on them.

“There are so many people excited about this game that I cannot see it going any other way really.”

TOTTONIANS: Nicholas Wood, Nick Jones, Thomas Gregory, Alistair Ramus, Oli Northover, Michael Wisnewski, Kevin Raqio, Ieuan Williams, Harry Dolbear, Robbie Searle, Bart van Herwijnen, Mike Searle, Rich Buck, Stewart Davies, Pierre Alex Clark. Rep: Mark Amey, Jon Wilton, Faisil Mutiti.