Petersfield 1st XV travelled over the county border to Bournemouth’s Chapel Gate Ground expecting a tough encounter after their earlier loss at home, 33-46, while securing a try bonus point. That this match ended with Petersfield again securing a try bonus point demonstrated that Bournemouth are deservedly second in the league and that Petersfield can make winning against them a tough prospect.

From kick-off, it was obvious that the hosts were not going into the match with any idea other than ferociously attacking with intent to win. Bournemouth collected Petersfield’s kick-off and, from their excellent kicker, returned the ball with interest, where fullback Brad Caparo safely caught the ball and set off on a jinking run until Bournemouth, following up the kick, tackled him, and he was penalised for holding on. Interestingly, the hosts chose to kick at goal from 40 metres out, successfully moving the score to 3-0.

Less than a minute from the restart, Bournemouth infringed, and a long kick to touch for a penalty lineout had the visitors deep inside the host’s half. With a long throw to tighthead prop Dan Sargent securing the ball and the forwards forming a maul around him, they drove to the line where the hosts arrested progress. Sargent managed to release the ball, and it was rapidly passed to number eight Liam Perkins, who charged for the try line close to touch. Nick Blumlein calmly added the conversion to the try, making it 3-7.

The breathtaking pace of the game saw Bournemouth attacking Petersfield’s five-metre line just six minutes from the start. Petersfield’s defence held firm until the hosts lost the ball behind them and quickly recycled it to run around Field’s defence to score a converted try, bringing the score to 10-7.

The restart kick was perhaps too long, creating a difficult position for Field to follow up. Bournemouth’s left wing pouched the ball and took off at a speed that left all of Petersfield’s players in his slipstream for an angled run from halfway to between the posts, making the try conversion a formality at 17-7.

With just 16 minutes on the clock, Bournemouth won lineout ball on their 22, and their towering lock came through the Field line to pass inside to his arriving backs while Petersfield’s defence was scattered. From their pacy backs, they rounded the retreating Petersfield to score a further converted try, making it 24-7.

With no more than the first quarter played and the scoreboard showing Bournemouth 24, Petersfield 7, it seemed an uphill task for the visitors. For both teams’ supporters, it seemed that the error count of knocked-on balls, offsides, and not releasing both the ball and the tackled player prevented many moves from developing into flowing rugby. Bournemouth are a fit, strong, and aggressive team, excelling at the breakdown and in the tackle. Petersfield once again showed their superior scrummaging in the set scrum, rucks, and mauls through the starting pack of Jackson Clark, Sam Brown, Dan Sargent, Oli Hunt, Franko Tomic, Matt Momber, Jack Janaway, and Liam Perkins.

Ten minutes of back-and-forth rugby had Bournemouth finally in possession, launching their lightning-fast left winger towards the try line to score a try to which the extras were added, making it 31-7.

Meanwhile, Petersfield fullback Brad Caparo was injured in a clumsy tackle that was judged dangerous, and Bournemouth were red-carded and reduced to fourteen players for the rest of the match.

With ten minutes of the half to play, Petersfield got themselves well into the host’s 22 through their well-drilled, if a little accident-prone, backs of Joe Knowles, Nick Blumlein, Sam Dawes, Will Mathews, Greg Jansen, Ethan Horsfall, and Brad Caparo. Yet another penalty by the hosts was scrummed by the visitors, driving an untidy Bournemouth pack backwards to the line where Liam Perkins dotted down for a converted try, making it 31-14.

On half-time, Petersfield’s inside centre Will Mathews was yellow-carded for holding on, and the penalty, almost under the posts, was converted, taking the score into the break: Bournemouth 34, Petersfield 14.

Bournemouth kicked a penalty within a minute of the second half’s start, but it took more than fifteen minutes for them to trouble the scoreboard with an unconverted try, making it 42-14.

When Brad Caparo left the field, experienced scrum-half Alex Duffus replaced him, with Joe Knowles moving to cover fullback. Petersfield reshuffled, with remaining replacements Nic Wilde joining the back row, while Sam Janaway, returning from the antipodes, joined his brother Jack in the pack at hooker. Bournemouth also emptied their bench, but if these changes altered the dynamics of play with the hosts down to fourteen, it was not obvious.

Petersfield started to use their numerical superiority, and from yet another dominant scrum, the ball was passed to the left wing where fullback Joe Knowles caught the ball and burrowed over the try line from close quarters for an unconverted try, making it 42-19.

With just two minutes left to play, Petersfield threw everything at Bournemouth for their fourth and bonus-point try. It was Captain, Tighthead Prop, and season’s leading try-scorer Dan Sargent who put the bonus point on the league table, while Nick Blumlein took the visitors’ score to a respectable 26, leaving the final score Bournemouth 42, Petersfield 26.

Squad: Jackson Clark, Sam Brown, Dan Sargent, Oli Hunt, Franko Tomic, Matt Momber, Jack Janaway, Liam Perkins, Joe Knowles, Nick Blumlein, Sam Dawes, Will Mathews, Greg Jansen, Ethan Horsfall, Brad Caparo, Sam Janaway, Nic Wilde, Alex Duffus.

Results Elsewhere In Regional 2 South Central
This week’s results showcased the dominance of the league’s top teams, with Farnham, Bournemouth, and Tottonians all securing commanding victories. Winchester also made a strong statement with a comprehensive win, while Chichester’s away triumph at Chobham provided a spark in the lower half of the table. Petersfield’s valiant effort at Bournemouth keeps them competitive in the fight for mid-table positions.

Results:

Chobham 19-33 Chichester
Farnham 34-13 Wimborne
Guildford 50-24 North Dorset
Tottonians 69-24 Andover
Winchester 62-5 Newbury Blues

Regional 2 South Central League Table After GW18

This Saturday (22 Feb) is a league “rest week", giving other teams in the league an opportunity to catch up with fixtures that were originally cancelled.

The carnage returns the following Saturday (1st March) however, where the 1st XV meet Guildford in front of a sold out Farmers’ Lunch at Penns Place! We look forward to seeing you all there.