BEMERTON Heath Harlequins returned to second place in the Wessex League Division One table with a 5-2 victory over mid table Whitchurch, writes DAVID HEATHER.

Extreme hot weather and a hard bumpy pitch did not lead to a flowing game.

Whitchurch after their 5-0 nil victory over New Milton last week started confidently and found themselves 2-0 up after only 15 minutes courtesy of a penalty and a break down the right which resulted in Lloyd Thompson lobbed Kempson to score.

To their credit Harlequins then controlled the next 75 minutes

Constant pressure led to Jacob Rawkins finding Danny Finnegan to reduce the arrears and then one time Whitchurch player Scott Hassell slamming home the leveller before half time.

The second half was exclusively played down the slope in the Whitchurch half and several chances were made and squandered.

A goal had to come and sure enough Justin Bennett the leading scorer in the Wessex League

took control of the game and plundered a second half hat-trick, one a penalty the other two clinical finishing.

Harlequins go to Alton on Saturday on the plastic pitch without skipper Kane O'Keefe and influential centre half Graham Williams.