But, once again, the result could have been so different.  Hampshire were guilty of too many errors which ultimately proved costly.

Somerset opened the scoring on 9 minutes when flanker Hooper crossed and Burton added the extras and followed it up with a penalty two minutes later.  The home side pulled a score back at the midway point of the half when Portsmouth and Army lock Dave Bates went over - Simon Humberstone of Basingstoke converting the try for 10-7.

However, Burton added a second penalty and then converted hooker Cooper's try late in the half to see the West Country side ahead 20-7 at the interval.

And that lead was extended further when prop and captain McGrath piled over the line for his first of the afternoon before adding a second on 71 minutes, by which time Jersey's Michael Le Bourgeois had reduced the deficit with a try on 67 minutes.

But Hampshire's lack of finishing cost them badly and ruined the good work produced by the front five, who had an excellent game in the set piece, so much so that the Somerset captain McGrath had a prolonged discussion with the referee at half-time to sort out their own problems against them.

The problems from the previous games - namely conceding penalties, missing tackles and making silly mistakes - were all too evident and this was Hampshire's downfall and it prevented the side from playing the fast and fluid style of rugby that they were capable.

So, Hampshire close the season with three defeats from three and sit bottom of the Division Two South table.