“WE ARE not counting our chickens yet,” was the firm message from coach Andy Waite as Andover took another giant step towards remarkable back to back promotions at New Milton last Saturday.

They now sit two points clear at the top of London SW 3, with just three games to go, a position they would have hardly dared dream of when they won the Hampshire League last season.

Andover expected this to be a tough, uncompromising affair and they were not disappointed as a strong New Milton side came at them from the start, but the manner in which Andover kept their cool and gradually dismantled the home side, displayed just how much they have matured in the past two seasons.

A powerful and skilful pack is the corner stone of the success story, but this term Andover have developed a pacey and clever set of backs to compliment them and also have a greater strength in depth as more and more youngsters come through to senior rugby.

This was never more evident than last weekend when after going behind to an early try Andover defended stoutly, gradually inched their way back into the game and then coolly and incisively took control.

The impressive Tom Erskine led the charge with a tireless performance and it was his break that saw the ball moved wide, where Charlie Waite neatly chipped through for Elliott Copestake to score a fine try, which Waite converted to put Oakwood sponsored Andover in control.

With hooker Tom Waite and props Alex Hibdige and Nick Reed dominating both the tight and around the park, Andover had the platform to patiently wear down the home side.

Marc Wilding and Alex Morgan had similar dominance at the lineout and without the ball, the brave rearguard by New Milton eventually had to end.

When the next blow came it was through the predatory instincts of Sam Froggett who seized on a mistake to punish Milton with a wonderfully taken score.

As Andover piled on the pressure Milton transgressed and Waite coolly slotted a penalty to increase the lead before the forwards finally delivered a fatal blow.

Wilding touched down from an awesome short scrum and when Waite converted the game was done as a contest.

Andover used the boot to keep Milton deep in their own half and from another short scrum the pack once again marched over their opponents, for a penalty try converted by Waite.

With bonus point secured Andover rang the changes and after several close calls Froggett once again showed all of his experience to complete the scoring with another fantastic finish just before the end of the game.

This weekend Andover host old rivals Fordingbridge in the semifinal of the Hampshire Bowl and are taking no chances, pledging to field a full-strength side.