It was not the best of weekends for the top six clubs in Hampshire as all, from Basingstoke in National League 3 South to struggling Gosport & Fareham in London 2, succumbed to disappointing defeats.

Probably the most galling of all the scorelines was the reverse taken by the latter, who had targeted their visit to winless and regular whipping boys Cobham to push their own cause at the foot of London 2 South.

The one-point defeat was not on the agenda and sent the peninsular side to their seventh defeat of the season from eight starts, although points difference keeps the Surrey side below them.

It could have been different if Ben Maddigan's conversion of winger Jon Hogarth's 68th-minute try from wide out had not hit the upright and stayed out, but they now face just two more away days before returning home for the first time this season - and it cannot come soon enough.

League leaders Barnes have once again received a questionable reference from Portsmouth coach Ian Chandler, who saw his side lose a 9-5 lead with just four minutes remaining to go down 17-9, which keeps the Londoners unbeaten.

But just how they are is something that Chandler cannot quite understand. "They are not a great side and we should have won had the referee not missed a knock-on in the lineout which resulted in them scoring and taking the lead late on."

With all the injury problems they have, it would have been an outstanding result with Pete Wylie hitting two penalties and a drop goal in the near miss.

Andover and Winchester also fell to away-day defeats. The latter went down 26-5 at Sidcup, while the former were on the receiving end of the other All Blacks - Old Mid-Whitgiftian 43-8.

There was an emotional moment in Havant's second London Division 1 defeat of the season with the return of Matt Hart at fly-half for his first game for four years.

Hart, who was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the age of 17 and was hospitalised for some time following his enforced retirement from the game three seasons ago while playing for Basingstoke, kicked three penalties as the side he has been coaching lost 20-9 at Bishop's Stortford.

It was little surprise as the Havant injury list lengthens to include a full back division and more than half the regular pack members. But it was a fine effort considering, and many players are being given valuable experience.