Petersfield played host to Gillingham-based North Dorset RFC in their opening game of the South Central Two League, a level six competition—the highest level reached in Petersfield’s history. North Dorset won promotion to the same league as Petersfield at the end of last season.

This fixture is a bit of a marathon for both clubs, with North Dorset’s team bus taking over two hours to make the journey. However, an impressive number of travelling supporters followed their team up the A303.

Petersfield’s preseason trial matches away from home, at Horsham and Brighton—both teams playing in a level five league—gave the players and coaches valuable experience, which showed on Saturday.

Petersfield selected a team that combined experienced players from last season with three recruits who joined during preseason. North Dorset had similar plans and came with a reputation for being strong in the forwards pack. This was soon evident when they took to the pitch, where their superior size and weight advantage left the home support hoping that Petersfield’s set-piece technique would prove vital.

From the off, Petersfield dominated possession and field position, pinning the visitors behind their ten-metre line, though it took more than six minutes for Field to push North Dorset back inside their twenty-two. A series of penalties by the visitors at loose scrums allowed Petersfield to kick to touch, with their lineout working well. However, North Dorset’s defence held firm. Fly-half Nick Blumlein, acting captain on the day, elected to kick for points and was successful. 3-0.

From the restart, the ball was kicked back to the visitors, who passed to their very quick full-back. He sliced through the centre of Petersfield’s sluggish defence, beating three tackles to score under the posts. The try was converted. With less than ten minutes played, Petersfield trailed by four points. 3-7.

Petersfield continued to attack, with strong runs from their forwards and wide ball spread to their backs, making inroads into the opposition’s half. A penalty lineout on North Dorset’s twenty-two saw a poor take by Petersfield, which put scrum-half Alex Duffus under great pressure. However, he retained possession, setting up a series of rucks that secured the ball ten metres from the posts. Hooker Nic Wilde charged from deep, received a pop pass, and scored under the posts. The try was converted. 10-7.

Petersfield’s score advanced as Nick Blumlein took a superb penalty kick from over 30 metres out after the visitors were penalised for not releasing. 13-7.

A penalty lineout on the visitors' twenty-two was won by North Dorset, but they were unable to control the ball. Petersfield’s number eight and player-coach, Liam Perkins, pounced on the loose ball and galloped the full twenty-two metres, shrugging off two determined tacklers to stretch over the try line near the corner flag. Nick Blumlein, in fine form with the boot, converted from the touchline 25 metres out. 20-7.

The following ten minutes saw both teams camped between the twenty-twos until, on the stroke of half-time, the visitors converted a penalty in front of the posts, taking the score to 20-10.

Petersfield opened the scoring in the second half when a North Dorset clearance kick failed to find touch inside Petersfield’s half. Winger Miles Sampson caught the ball and set off on a 30-metre mazy run to the centre of the park. After the ball passed through three pairs of hands, outside centre George Davis charged through on a looping run to touch down for an unconverted try. 25-10.

At the end of the third quarter, Petersfield won lineout ball on halfway. After a few short passes and a rolling maul, two further passes to the right found left wing Miles Sampson, who had looped behind the action to burst onto an offload and run around the opposition’s defence to score under the posts. The try was converted. 32-10.

The damp and dreary conditions caused some difficulties with a greasy ball and wet turf on hard ground, making both handling and footholds difficult. Petersfield’s discipline began to break down, and two players received yellow cards. For four minutes, they were down to thirteen players.

North Dorset scored from a number-eight pick-up at the base of the scrum, 20 metres out. He outfoxed Petersfield’s somewhat scattered defence and ran in under the posts unopposed for a converted try. 32-17.

Director of Rugby Matt McLean noted many positives from the match, stating that starting the season in a higher league with a bonus-point win was encouraging. He commented on aspects such as maintaining team shape during substitutions and the need to build on the players' skill sets while improving tactical awareness. He was pleased that, with thirty-two points on the board and down to thirteen men, the opposition did not trouble the scoreboard further.

Captain on the day Nick Blumlein highlighted the importance of a bonus point win in the new league stating:

"We created loads of chances. Half time, the chat was that we just need to take those chances. We probably didn't as much as we could have done. And second half was bit of a scrap first but the fact we came away at bonus point, they didn't get anything. Can't complain."

Next week, Petersfield are at home to Tottonians, a team experienced at level six rugby. This will be the first time Petersfield have faced their counterparts competitively since 2002! Kick Off 15:00 at Penns Place!