The early rugby campaign starters all gained valuable match practise and victories to boot in a mixed bag of pre-season fixtures ahead of the opening gambits of cup and league next weekend.

Havant and Winchester played out three segments of 35 minutes apiece and tested out numerous players, with the east Hampshire National Leaguers coming out 29-10 victors.

Despite Havant going into a 17-0 second segment lead, Winchester were unfortunate not to have broken their duck as they dominated much of the first third but collected nothing for the efforts.

It was not until the third period that the home side eventually crossed, but coach Mike Marchant was far from disappointed with his squads' effort. "If we could just finish off the opportunities we created, we could have closed the gap," he said.

Former Hooks Lane skipper Adam Jewitt crossed twice for the side that face Old Patesians next weekend, while Winchester's tries came from good movement through the backs.

"I thought the game went very well," he said. "We had the majority of the possession and took over three quarters of the line-out.

"However, the main focus of this game was to see if the players I have can stand up and play at the level in which Havant are going to be this season and at five tries - which should have been four - to two, I believe we can."

Marchant's opposite number Dave Cook bemoaned the fact that two pre-season friendlies had been cancelled on them, leaving them well behind in their preparations. "We have had a late start and this lack of match practise showed today."

National League rivals Basingstoke squeezed to an 18-17 success over South West One side Marlow, but both sides were short on personnel due to the holiday weekend, so coach Ian Calder is not taking much from the outing.

A penalty try from new Kiwi signing Fraser Jones and one from the coach, who recently signed a two-year contract with the Down Grange club, ensured they took the spoils but a host of injuries gained is a concern.

"It was a good run out," said Calder, "but we picked up a few injuries ahead of the trip to Tabard, but we hope they clear up in time."

Newly appointed Gosport & Fareham coach Sean Fanning was concerned that a host of retirements and the exertions of 2001-2002 may undermine the clubs hopes for this season.

But he was given a timely reminder of their strength as they demolished Thurrock 38-10 in front of a sizeable crowd at Dolphin Crescent.

Two tries from flanker Dave Higgins and debut scores for Army man Ben Slatter and Harry Harrison aided the peninsular men to a comfortable victory and a morale-boosting one ahead of their trip to Richmond in the Powergen Cup next Saturday.

"Having watched them in pre-season," said secretary Iain Rackham, "I certainly did not expect a performance like that. It was amazing."

The facts of Portsmouth's loss to Swanage & Wareham 29-26 were more stark that just the result as they suffered injuries to four key players which contributed to the score line.