Vandals have found the going tough this season and have registered only a solitary win at London Cornish to date but a quick glance at the fixture list shows they have played the top six teams in the league already and shouldn’t be disheartened.

Last weekend they went down 34-26 at Guildford, pushing the hosts all the way with an encouraging display and only missing out on a losing bonus point due to a try in the last five minutes. Encouragingly several key players such as winger Cass Bramham-Law, centre Bill Painter and flanker Jon Cottam (back from his Australian adventure) are finding their feet after injury lay-offs.

Gosport & Fareham currently sit 7th in the league and, after suffering three defeats in their first three league games to Bognor, Trojans and Guildford, they have recently recorded two impressive home wins in the last three weeks by beating Old Reigatian 20-15 and top of the table Tottonians 27-24 with a last minute penalty in a local derby last week.

Gosport & Fareham profile
• Nickname – ‘The Hugin’
• Playing Colours – Yellow and Blue
• Ground – Gosport Park, Gosport, Hampshire
• Coach – Jamie Daly
• Star men – Tim Snowden (6), Wes Dugan (9)
• Points machine – Ryan Thorne (11)

Vandals Team News (speculation until team sheet released!);
In a significant bit of news, last season’s top try scorer Darren Livett has quit the club during the week to join London Irish Amateurs in London 1 and as a result full back Dai Hammond switches to fly half. This reshuffle also sees Jonny Howe move to full back and Olly Sines returns to the wing. Julian Kunkler is a doubt with concussion but prop Luke Goggin returns to the side.

Lock Daryl Bryant is still sidelined with a torn bicep/dislocated shoulder and Dave O’Reilly and Neil Piggott are long term absentees.