FORDINGBRIDGE romped to a 60-14 victory over Romsey to leap up to second in Snows Hampshire One ahead of the month's break for Christmas.

After four minutes, captain Steve Brown crossed for the first try, which was converted by Mat Norton.

Romsey instantly hit back with seven points of their own to level the scores.

A Norton penalty gave Fordingbridge a slim lead for a short time but, within two minutes, Romsey crossed the whitewash again, which they converted, to take the lead for the first time in the match.

This was to be the last time the visitors scored despite their rugged defence and one up tackling, Fordingbridge took control of the game. And following two more tries from Peter Scott, both converted, the half finished at 24-14 to the New Forest side.

With the Fordingbridge scrum dominant they spent the second half on the front foot and took complete advantage.

Tries from Craig Stocker and Rob Hay added another 14 points to the total and Fordingbridge were now in the driving seat.

Prop Mike Parry scored his third of the season and this was followed by two from Dan Brown, the club's top try scorer for the last 11 seasons, saw the score and the match run away from the visitors.

A final try from Hay, the Fordingbridge number 8, meant that the game closed out at 60-14.

Brown said: "Great to finish the first half of the season second in the table and to do it in front of a large home crowd."

Fordingbridge have a long Christmas break before welcoming Petersfield, now one place below them in the league, to the Rec on Saturday, January 14.

Fordingbridge seconds lost to Blandford seconds 41-12.