On Saturday at Penns Place sixth placed Petersfield lost to nineth placed Twickenham in the closing minute of the match to the second penalty try awarded in favour of visiting Twickenham.

Given the wet weather of the previous week and over half an inch of rain in the twelve hours leading up to kick off pitch conditions were adequate and did not advantage either team.
Recalling Petersfield visit to Twickenham last Autumn where they were slow out of the blocks they rapidly advanced into the visitor’s half and put together some attacking play. Once the ball was in play and free of Twickenham’s threatening defence the ball was shifted though five players hands for Twickenham to be penalised for not releasing. With the ball within kickable range the host chose Joe Knowles to kick and score three points 3-0.
With Petersfield in possession inside their twenty two a storming run by Karter Whittock took him clear into the visitor’s half where he passed inside for four teammates to combine and through short passes that all went to hand move close to the twenty two. Seb Tuff scooped up a dying pass and refusing to be halted by three tacklers determinedly crossed the try line for an unconverted score 8-0

Twickenham threatened to break out of their half and only determined defence by Petersfield contained their progress. From a penalty lineout in the left corner Petersfield gathered the ball and byway of one of their effective rolling maul drove Franco Tomic over the line to score for Joe Knowles to improve 15-0

Meanwhile Twickenham had been reduced to fourteen by the referee’s use of a yellow card and to be further penalised with a second yellow card so for a few minutes were defending with just thirteen players on the field.

As the visitor’s players returned to the pitch it appeared that the momentum of the match had swung in Twickenham’s favour whereupon they advanced up field to be awarded a penalty which was kicked deep into Petersfield’s left touch. From the following lineout a stuttering maul drove Petersfield backwards and the ball over the tryline where despite the packs efforts they could not prevent the visitors from grounding the ball for an unconverted try as the referee called halftime 15-5

After the restart Petersfield were battered by an energised opposition but eventually secured the ball from scrum and fly half Matt McLean ran from thirty metres out at the base of the post jumping out of potential tackles as if he was training for a steeplechase. Tackled by two defenders he laid the ball back to his back row where centre Tom Blewitt received the pass and spotted Alex Robinson on the left wing at full tilt. Robinson took the pass and the defender over the tryline to ground the ball for an unconverted try 20-5.

For reasons best known to Petersfield pack and the specialist in the dark arts of scrummaging, in this match and most of those since Christmas, they have not been able to dominate the scrum, even difficult to hold their own. What was, until recently, a standout strength now appears their Achilles heal. Although the pitch conditions could be a contributing factor it seems that other teams have adapted well to theses condition. This frailty led to the visitors scoring an unconverted try in the right corner for the score to be posted as 20-10

Twickenham were awarded a penalty under the post as Petersfield failed to release the ball and added three points to their total 20-13

From a lineout ball which Liam Perkins secured that was smuggled to Franko Tomic who used both his hight and strength to push through the rolling maul to score a further unconverted try 25-13

Next in what was a deteriorating situation for Petersfield where a few knocks and replacements had emptied the bench, the set scrum which as previously reported looked fragile, attracted the attention of the referee who found the repeated wheeling and back pedalling not to his liking and had spoken about this, Jack Janaway was yellow carded and Twickenham awarded a penalty try 25-20

In the final seconds of the match a further penalty try for Twickenham left the score at 25-27 with Twickenham still ninth in the league but only one point behind Guildford with Petersfield collecting a try and losing bonus points remaining in sixth place with fifth placed Tottonians seven points ahead.

For the second time this season Twickenham out played Petersfield certainly against the form of the league and while next week is an International rest weekend Petersfield will prepare to travel to league leaders Bournemouth in a fortnights time.

Petersfield also said farewell to regular member of the back three Charlie Muir who leaves us to relocate to London for work reason. Meanwhile centre and or winger Miles Sampson left to move to the west coast of America. The closing weeks of the season will see one or two other players move on, to travel pre or post university or away from the area to follow career opportunities.

Squad: Sam Janaway, Will Norton, Dan Sargent, Franko Tomic, Ryan Morse, Jack, Janaway, Karter Whittock, Liam Perkins, Dan Chinnock, Matt McLean, Charlie Muir, Tom Blewitt, Seb Tuff, Alex Robinson, Joe Knowles, Harley Orr, Jamie Guthrie, Brad Caparo