Portsmouth just not clinical enough

Ben Dudley’s side are eight points ahead of rapidly improving Effingham & Leatherhead who are third from bottom.

‘We have an anxious few weeks ahead of us and need a couple more wins to ensure we stay up,’ said Dudley.

‘Injuries and unavailability have hit us recently, preventing us getting the cohesion that we need.

‘We don’t have the strength in depth to deal with it.

‘It is frustrating but that is where we are at.

‘This latest defeat is typical of our season, where we are always competitive but not clinical enough.

‘We keep making silly mistakes which allow the opposition to get momentum.’

After falling behind to an early converted try Portsmouth hit back on 14 minutes with a try from Jackson Clark

On 53 minutes Simon Morgan added a second home try but by that stage they were already chasing the game.

A rejigged Southsea Nomads side slumped to a massive 102-0 Hampshire Two defeat at Alton.

The visitors were looking to build on their encouraging performance against Southampton but were forced to make wholesale changes.

A slow start gifted Alton the initiative and allowed them t take total control in the backs and forwards.

The visitors had their best spell around the half-hour mark when they came close to scoring on a number of occasions.

Joby Walsh, Josh Tetaur and Joe Beale made strong carries into the Alton ranks but Nomads failed to capitalise.

In the end Nomads had no answer to a devastatingly powerful performance from promotion chasing Alton.

But the players remain upbeat and will continue to focus on their task.

‘It was a very hard afternoon for all the lads,’ said club captain Ben Horrod.

‘Even though the scoreline doesn’t look very good there were still some positives to take from it.

‘Our discipline was good and we only gave away a handful of penalties which is good considering the amount of defending that we had to do.’

Alex Kasote was awarded the man-of-the-match award for his constant work and cover tackling.

London three south west leaders Farnham proved far too powerful for United Services Portsmouth who endured a 64-12 mauling at Burnaby Road.