Controversy reigned at Gosport as Jody Morgan’s young side were denied their first win of the season by some dubious tactics from the home side, which may lead to an appeal to the league to have the result overturned.

Andover were leading comfortably and dominating the scrums when a Gosport lost a front row to injury and did not have a replacement, electing to go uncontested.

The controversy deepened later on, however, when the same player returned to the pitch at number eight to prevent his side going a man down, before they snatched a last minute win.

“We are not sure of the rule regarding front row replacements and we are checking with the league” said Morgan.

“But to us it was a deliberate tactical decision which changed the game and to then bring the supposed injured player back on simply rubbed salt in the wound.”

Controversy aside, this young Andover team confirmed its improvement at this level and with more experience, despite everything, could still have won.

The game began with both teams playing like it was a cup final and young ‘man of the match’ George Roscoe, returning from injury, made a fine break.

Gosport turned the ball over however and some fast hands saw them open the scoring in the corner.

Andover pinned the hosts back but a lost lineout saw Gosport break free, only to lose the ball and tempers when a Gosport player was yellow carded.

Andover used the extra man advantage and from a scrum drove the hosts backwards.

A try looked inevitable, but the inexperienced Andover back row dived for the five meter line thinking it was the try line and the chance was lost.

Soon after Gosport made Andover pay when a clever cross field kick saw them add another try.

From the restart Andover poured forwards and from a short scrum Aaron Hatcher drove under the posts to score with Josh Gibbs converting.

At 10-7 Andover were back in it and when they were awarded a penalty on the halfway line, Gibbs struck it perfectly to draw Andover level and silence the detractors in the crowd.

The Andover pack was bossing the game and with clean ball from the back of the scrum 18 year old Roscoe cut another great line score a lovely try converted by Gibbs.

With 20 minutes left all looked rosy for Andover but then came the front row issue and the game changed.

With no need to scrummage, the home side got their back row into the game and Andover conceded a soft try.

At 15-17 Andover still only had to hold out for five minutes to take the win.

But as the ‘injured’ Gosport player returned, wave after wave of attack proved too much and a last minute try saw the better team lose by three points.