Petersfield welcome Bournemouth II to Penns Place on Saturday for a 15:00 kick off in Counties One Hampshire League. The balcony and touchline will be packed with more than 100 Vice Presidents and their guests attending the annual Vice Presidents’ pre match lunch with other home and travelling supporters swelling the crowd. There is little go on past form as after the restructuring of the leagues Petersfield have only played Bournemouth II twice, both times last season. Honours were even in these high scoring encounters Petersfield winning away 38-20 and losing at home 46-34.

With Petersfield topping the league table undefeated with 43 points and Bournemouth II in the basement area with one win, one draw, and seven losses for eleven league points, which includes five bonus points, hopes are high that Petersfield will continue their season’s undefeated run.

Starting XV

1. Jackson Clarke
2. Sam Brown
3. Ryan Wilkie
4. Jack McCulloch
5. Franko Tomic
6. Zak Jenkins
7. Karter Whittock
8. Rhys Bowen
9. Alex Duffus
10. Nick Blumlien
11. Ethan Ogilvie
12. Will Mathews
13. George Davis
14. Jordan Allan
15. Sam Dawes;

Replacements
16. Dan Luff
17. Harley Orr
18. Matt Momber

This selection allows some positional changes and players to replace those not available for this match. Front Rows Harley Orr and Dan Luff drop to the bench after their massive contribution at Trojans last week and First XV captain Matt Momber returns from injury to add industry to the bench, while Sam Brown and Ryan Wilkie return to join try scorer Jackson Clark in the engine room. Franko Tomic returns and joins Jack McCulloch in the second row while Zak Jenkins moves to back row with Karter Whittock, and Rhys Bowen, at number eight, replaces Liam Perkins who takes a well- deserved break. At half backs Alex Duffus continues at scum half as Nick Blumlein returns at fly half. Ethan Ogilvie stays at left wing as Will Mathews moves from fly half to inside centre replacing Greg Jansen, George Davis retains his outside centre position, Jordan Allan gets a start at right wing replacing Andy Wood and the returning Sam Daws moves from the wing to full back replacing Tom Land.

While Petersfield benefit from their relative strength in depth their Second XV entertain Winchester Knights on pitch 2 Fields squad laced with players who have been selected in the First XV this season.

A word from Saturdays Captain, Franko Tomic -

"I'm immensly proud of our team's exceptional performances this season, it's a testament to our collective dedication and hard work. Our squad has been training rigorously, and the return of several key players from injury as well as couple new additions bolsters our lineup, adding depth and experience. Bournemouth is a big club and we expect a tough game, but we are ready to bring our best game forward infront of the big crowd."

A word from Team Manager Jamie Williams -

"We have had a good start to the season. We now go into every game with a target on our backs. We need to make sure we keep pushing and developing on what we have built so far. We know from last year Bournemouth can be a tough side. So we have to go into the game with the same mindset like it is a top of the league clash. I’m excited this weekend because this marks halfway point of the season. We then can look back and learn from this half and push forward."