On a day with conditions fit for a fast-moving match in near-ideal weather, Petersfield welcomed Newbury Blues and one hundred Past Captains and their guests to a pre-match lunch, guaranteeing a packed balcony and touchline for the game. Newbury’s travelling support added significantly to the more than 250 spectators for this last home league game of the season.

That there was much to play for by both teams and individuals was soon demonstrated. Newbury, who bushwhacked Petersfield at their ground in December, winning 23-15 when Petersfield were below par in most areas, came into the match off the back of a rare away win against North Dorset the previous week.

It came to pass that Newbury, in their previous league fixture, had once again won against North Dorset, so the auguries appeared, to the visitors, to favour them in this encounter. Other details of the match added piquancy to the game: Petersfield’s First XV captain and tighthead prop Dan Sargent had, at the beginning of the season, accepted a wager from Dan Luff, former First XV prop and cattle farmer, that if Sargent scored twenty tries in the season, he would win one of Luff’s beef cattle. Sargent started the game with nineteen tries to his credit.

Petersfield were able to select one of their strongest XVs for this match, and it included, in the starting line-up at inside centre, debutant Colt player Tommy Spencer, after his try-scoring contribution from the bench at Winchester earlier in the month. It was a great disappointment and with concern that he sustained a significant ankle injury in the warm-up and was replaced, on the bench, by fellow Colt Dan Chinnock, who had only come to spectate. This reshuffled the starting line-up, with Matt Momber moving from the second row to inside centre, and Franko Tomic stepping in as lock.

Perhaps the injury to young Spencer had an effect on the team as they were somewhat hesitant from the kick-off. It might have been the defensive pressure that Newbury put on any Petersfield attack that delayed the first movement of the scoreboard for fifteen minutes when some clean passes and a kick to the left wing had Miles Sampson, refreshed from a sabbatical in the second XV and a short holiday, latch on to the ball and touch down for Nick Blumlein to add the extras, 7-0.

From there, perhaps the strangest phase of play all season unfolded. Newbury stole the ball from a Petersfield lineout just 5 metres from the try line. Looking to relieve the pressure with a clearance kick, their fly-half slipped, and the ball ricocheted off the head of Franko Tomic, who had attempted to charge the kick down. The deflection carried the ball into the try area, where Sam Brown was perfectly placed to catch it and ground it. After two minutes of deliberation between the referee and players, the try was correctly awarded and converted by Blumlein, 14-0.

If you were there and just as confused as us about how the try was awarded, you weren’t alone! According to Law 11.3 (Knock-on), a knock-on only occurs if the ball is propelled forward with the hand or arm. Since the ball came off Tomic’s head, it was not a knock-on, and his charge down attempt was completely legal under Law 11.7 (Charge Down), which explicitly permits this action. Additionally, while Sam Brown would ordinarily have been offside in such a scenario, Law 21.1 (In-goal) clarifies that there is no offside in the in-goal area, making his positioning and grounding of the ball entirely valid.

It was a chaotic moment, but credit must go to the referee for correctly applying multiple niche laws in the same phase to make the right decision.

Newbury showed their intent and secured the ball from the restart, and with their mobile back row and back line combining, crossed the line in the corner for an unconverted try, 14-5.

From a penalty lineout, Franko Tomic secured the ball at the tail and, using his power and acceleration, stretched his full 2.6 metres to place the ball over the line for the reliable Nick Blumlein to add the extras, 21-5.

With half time whistled, the score was Petersfield 21, Newbury 5. The neutral spectator could speculate that the full-time result could be close. As Petersfield returned to the field, the coaches rang the changes, bringing on Sam Janaway for Sam Brown in the front row and Charlie Muir at fullback for Brad Caparo. Dan Chinnock replaced Joe Knowles at scrum half, while Eddie Matthews moved to the bench for Knowles to take his place on the wing.

With the pack dominant in the set scrums and lineouts, they tried manfully to get Dan Sargent over the try line but did not gift try-scoring opportunities to their teammate. Next to score and secure a bonus point was number eight and player-coach Liam Perkins with a battering run and twist out of a tackle to score close to the posts—a converted try, 28-5.

Dan Sargent attempted to cross the line, and Newbury were there to deny his steak in history, holding him up over the line to the accompaniment of moos from the supporters. Though it was reasonable to suggest that he would score again this season for this topside.

Second-row Oli Hunt next crossed the try line from a mid-lineout training move, charging through the visitors’ line as they spread into a defensive position. By this time, Newbury were suffering from yellow cards, reducing their team to thirteen. Hunt scored near to touch, and the so-far accurate Nick Blumlein kicked for the conversion, only for the ball to hit the post and bounce out, 35-5.

Charlie Muir advanced the score for his first try of the game and Petersfield’s last with a scything run from halfway on the left touchline to cross by the left post, holding the ball off the ground in anticipation of Dan Sargent arriving to dot down. However, Charlie Muir’s pace had left Sargent in his wake, and Muir claimed the try, 40-5.

While the hosts counted down the seconds to full time, they let their guard drop, and Newbury burst through with a long sprint to add to their score—a converted try, 40-12.

Results elsewhere saw Farnham RFC secure the title following a 45-12 win over Chobham, denying the opportunity for a league title “play off” style clash against Bournemouth in a fortnight’s time. Winchester all but confirmed third place in the league as they beat a fighting Chichester side. Tottonians confirmed fourth place in the league with a 33-19 win over North Dorset and Wimborne stayed hot on the heels of Petersfield, beating Guildford 38-32 in a close affair. The final game of the weekend saw Bournemouth put 50 past relegated Andover in a one sided affair.

Regional 2 South Central GW21 Results:

Regional 2 South Central GW20 Results:

• Andover 7-50 Bournemouth
• Chichester 26-48 Winchester
• Farnham 45-12 Chobham
• North Dorset 19-33 Tottonians
• Wimborne 38-32 Guildford
• Petersfield 40-12 Newbury Blues

Petersfield now enjoy a two-week break before travelling to Gillingham on the 5th of April to face North Dorset in the final match of the league season. North Dorset have dubbed this game "The Shootout," with just three points separating themselves, Newbury Blues, Guildford, and Chichester in a nail-biting battle to avoid relegation.

Adding to the intrigue, Chichester will host Newbury Blues in what could be a winner-takes-all clash, while Guildford have the advantage of hosting an already-relegated Andover in what should be an almost guaranteed victory. With so many scenarios still in play, the stage is set for a thrilling and dramatic finale at the bottom of the table.

Squad: Jackson Clark, Sam Brown, Dan Sargent, Oli Hunt, Franko Tomic, Jack Janaway, Karter Whittock, Liam Perkins, Joe Knowles, Nick Blumlein, Miles Sampson, (Tommy Spencer) Matt McLean, Eddie Matthews, Brad Caparo, Sam Janaway, Charlie Muir, Dan Chinnock.

Regional 2 South Central Table After GW21