Fareham HEATHENS captain, Paul Charlson, was almost brought to apologise to his Guernsey opposite number after his side put in their worst performance for many years in being trampled 42-3 in the quarter-finals of the Hampshire Caffrey's Bowl.

Charlson was left seething with his under-committed players as they succumbed to the awful conditions and the pace of the Guernsey backs in conceding seven unanswered tries in the rout.

With fly-half Niall Allardice also not showing up, the captain, who had rushed from a family christening to be at the game, chastised his charges for the lack of defence and was a dejected man at the end.

Only an Andy Hopper penalty put Heathens on the board, but they were already 20 points down by that point.

Where it had taken Guernsey nearly an hour to score last week, they were five points up within two minutes and three tries ahead at the quarter mark. A further three came in the last ten minutes of the second half.

With a gale force cross wind cutting across the HMS Collingwood ground - Heathens' own Cams Alders pitch was under water - the Channel Islanders proved they are to be reckoned with in the Hampshire One promotion shake-up.

Charlson did not hold back in his criticism. "Absolutely pathetic, no other word for it," he fumed.

"After last week, we thought we had a chance but we just did not perform today. To be honest, it was embarrassing and there is no reason why we should perform like that.

"It was a fairly decent pitch that wasn't overly muddy but I have been left numb by that I saw. They slaughtered us."

Hamble's terrible campaign continued as they withdrew from a trip to Sandown & Shanklin, so the Isle of Wight made it an island one-two by beating last season's finalists Fordingbridge.

IoW moved into a 10-0 lead after an hour, but John Walkman posted a penalty followed shortly afterwards by a conversion of Phil Collier's try, courtesy of coach Ian Whyte's line-out steal and break which released the winger.

However, the parity was short lived as immediately from the restart, Walkman's clearance kick was charged down and the hosts crossed for the winning try.

They will meet Millbrook in the semi-finals, who did enough in the first half to shut out Hampshire Two side Kingsclere 19-0.

Man-of-the-match Richard Wyre collected two tries in the opening quarter to put the match beyond any serious doubt, although the hosts did produce some good rugby without breaking their duck.

Gosport & Fareham made it two wins in two days in defeating an under-strength Tottonians 33-0 in the last remaining Hampshire Caffrey's Cup first round game.

In the cutting rain and howling wind, Totts put up a gutsy performance after having a chunk of the side withdraw during midweek, leaving injured captain Miles Northover a pleased man.

"We played well," he admitted. "It was a good performance given the players we had out."

DRAW FOR SEMI-FINALS

Sandown & Shanklin v Guernsey, Isle of Wight v Millbrook

(winners of first match to stage final unless Guernsey win, then winners of second will host)