Havant's hopes of beating a relegation scrap were given support as they brought home a valuable and highly-deserved point from third-placed Blackheath to close the gap on rivals Basingstoke to a single point in National Division Three South.

However, they could have claimed both spoils, having led 22-3 with less than a quarter of the match remaining and were denied by a try in the second minute of injury time from recording a stunning victory.

Even though they did not win the match - this being the first draw in this division all season - coach Dave Cook will be able to use this result to his side's advantage as they plot their escape from the bottom end of the log.

A try in the first minute set the tone when South African Anton Petzer went over, which was followed by Dave Archer's effort midway through the period. Steve Claffey added a conversion and a penalty for a shock 15-0 half-time advantage.

With many errors spoiling an entertaining match, Blackheath continued to choose the kick-to-touch route rather than attempting to go for points, which, as the final score proved, was costly.

And when Alan Barnes intercepted a wayward pass - he sprinted the 75 metres to the line - Havant were cruising towards victory. Blackheath, though, had other ideas and stepped up the pressure with two converted tries in quick succession and a third in injury time to level the scores.

No disgrace at all for the visitors, but they could count themselves unfortunate not to have picked up both points instead of a single.

A vastly-inexperienced Basingstoke side gave a good account of themselves at Weston-super-Mare but could not bring home the rewards, going down 29-22 in the windy west country.

Without a host of first XV regulars, Ian Calder's charges scored three tries - which no other side bar run-away leaders Rosslyn Park had done this season on Weston territory - but that little bit of luck did not go their way.

Skipper Richard Baker and the returning Tony Jones crossed for the visitors, as did replacement Andy Wilson, but it was not quite enough. Calder was not that disappointed , though. "Considering the team we put out, the boys that came in worked really well," he said.

"It is just a shame we did not get any return, having scored 22 points at one of the best defences in the league."