Buckinghamshire 12, Hampshire 57

HAMPSHIRE will play Eastern Counties in the semi-finals of the County Championship Plate after they demolished Buckinghamshire to top pool two with a 100 per cent record of three wins in the group stage.

But the Hampshire players' collective delight at being only 80 minutes away from a showpiece final at Twickenham on May 28 was dashed when team manager John Byett informed them the RFU is moving the final from the home of English rugby.

Instead of the previously scheduled County Finals day at Twickenham, the England Saxons will play Scotland A - and it is a decision that has been slammed by Hampshire officials and players.

"Nothing surprises you with the RFU," said Hampshire skipper Ross Stirling.

"We've heard the final may be moved to The Stoop instead, which will still be great to play at, but it's a huge blow to find this out now we're in the semi-finals.

"All rugby players dream of playing a final at Twickenham and now we're not going to be able to. It undermines grass roots rugby when the RFU acts like this."

Hampshire manager Byett added: "It is a real shame, but symptomatic of the way the RFU views the competition. It's low on its agenda.

"They've used it to introduce the experimental law variations to confuse players and now, only two weeks before the final, in their wisdom, the RFU take it away from Twickenham.

"It's very disappointing for the lads - who have played well and worked hard for Hampshire this championship - to have that incentive taken away.

"But there's nothing we can do. We just have to make sure we get to the final, wherever it is."

In their semi-final this coming Saturday, Hampshire, in the last four for the first time since 2003, will travel to Norfolk to meet Eastern Counties, who thrashed Berkshire 95-0 to progress to the knock-out stages.

And Byett is optimistic that Hampshire can triumph once more, having been impressed with the team's showing against Bucks.

He said: "We played well today. After the first 15 minutes we calmed down and started to play. I'm delighted we've won the group.

"Everyone is playing their part. The pack is doing a great job - we shoved them off their own ball in the scrum and we're hitting Ross in the lineout every time - and we have two wingers in Richie Buck and Oge Ofuasia that can finish.

"There is a good atmosphere in the squad and the players are enjoying it, which is what it's all about."

Saturday's final pool fixture was staged at Olney RFC, near Bedford.

And the long journey proved no hindrance to Hampshire, as they ran in eight tries to seal top spot in some style and add Bucks' scalp to those of Dorset and Wiltshire, and Sussex.

Having won the toss and elected to play into the fierce wind sweeping the Recreation Ground, Hampshire started slowly, as did Bucks, in a disjointed opening spell.

Bucks missed a penalty before Hampshire's pack worked hard to present Portsmouth's Oge Ofuasia with a scoring chance as the ball was spread wide.

The big winger burst through on the left but dropped the ball as he was touching down for the try, and the referee ruled out the score after protests from Bucks.

It was a mistake Hampshire would not repeat. Maintaining their territory just short of the Bucks line, Hampshire's pack drove the opposing forwards off their own put-in at the scrum, enabling No 8 Luke Richardson to pick up and get over to score.

Impressive fly-half Chris Ashwin, making his first appearance in the county jersey after previous England University commitments, added the extras from the 22 to make it 7-0.

The second try spoke volumes for the determination in the Hampshire camp.

Full-back Grant Murdoch and Ofuasia chased Ashwin's deep kick and both men tackled the covering Bucks man, who spilled the ball and gave Russell Osman the chance to touch down wide right. Ashwin converted to make it 14-0.

Bucks responded with a converted try of their own - centre Leon Gillespie got past lacklustre defence from David Byett all too easily to penetrate the midfield before off-loading to winger Matt Avery to score in the corner.

But Hampshire had the last say when Basingstoke's Jamie Fish rescued the ball from a clumsy, almost rotated scrum, fed centre Osman, who then passed to Byett attacking the lines on the inside to exploit the gaps and cross. Ashwin again converted.

Leading 21-7 and with the wind at their backs, Hampshire cut loose in the second half and ran Bucks - who got a consolation try on 75 minutes to make it 12-43 - ragged.

An Ashwin penalty, a hat-trick of tries from Ofuasia, pacy Tottonian's winger Buck's 40m run and score, and Shane Murphy's delightful off-load to Phil Pearce on 80 minutes to see him through, completed the emphatic Hampshire points tally.

Hampshire: Grant Murdoch (rep Phil Pearce 65min); Richard Buck (rep Andy Byett 70min), David Byett, Russell Osman, Oge Ofuasia; Chris Ashwin, Jamie Fish (rep Grant Morris 65min); Neil Young (rep Danny Drake 65min), Tom Bolland (rep Jon Wood 65min), Tom Wells (rep Shane Murphy 28min); Ross Stirling, Harry Cripps (rep Martin Pearce 60min); Chris Williams, Tom Booth, Luke Richardson.