Rugby is a game that has 22 main laws broken down into numerous subsections and sub-subsections and on Saturday watchers of this league encounter had the privilege of seeing every one of them applied by the referee. This led to a poor flowing, scrappy game, but Romsey showed great composure to hold on for a vital first league win.

The home side started well and were on the score sheet when Kiwi centre Rob Thorp hacked a Fordingbridge error through into the open spaces behind the opposition line. Their winger covering across instead of clearing safely only succeeded in kicking the ball straight into the arms of flying winger Andy Stewart who scored wide out.

Fordingbridge then mounted a period of pressure and were rewarded with a penalty to make the score 5-3 at half-time.

The noisy crowd were soon back in action and this led to a Fordingbridge penalty to give them the lead. In previous games this would have signalled a Romsey capitulation but inspired by captain Gavin Harbour they surged into the opposition half and were rewarded with a penalty that was calmly slotted by the returning Graham Noble.

With time running out Romsey defended heroically and broke upfield to gain another penalty chance. Noble again stroked it through and this brought the game to a close 11-6 in favour of the home side.

This was too much for a member of the opposition who managed the rare feat of getting himself sent off for remonstrating with the referee.

This Saturday Romsey have two home games with the visit of the Isle of Wight and Romsey old boy Rich Dollimore.

* Congratulations go to second row Andy Hancock and his wife Andrea on the birth of their first child.