Petersfield travelled to Bournemouth’s Chaple Gate stadium after a fallow weekend allowing time for reflection and, when weather permitted, training to address the issues that allowed them to lose a lead of 15 points on their previous outing when hosting Twickenham them leaving victorious 25-27.

On arrival at Bournemouth their Director of Rugby observed that Petersfield had been through a few difficult weeks but said they were not taking their opponents lightly remembering the close game on Bournemouth’s visit in October.

Bournemouth came out of the blocks demonstrating their intent and why they lead the league. Petersfield saw very little ball in the first 6 minutes which resulted in an unconverted Bournemouth try from slick passing down the left wing. 5-0

Petersfield spent some time trying to string a few phases together while the hosts frustrated most moves. With Bournemouth inside Petersfield’s twenty two gave slightly speculative pass out to the wing Petersfield’s Alex Robinson intercepted and charged down the five metre channel with Bournemouth’s defence retreating. A full sixty metres was covered by Robinson before he was hunted down by the defence. Rapidly catching up was Petersfield’s Seb Tuff who pounced on the lose ball and flicked out a weighted pass to fly half Brad Caparo. Caparo floated a kick pass out to centre Matt McLean who dodged a flying tackle to dive over in the right corner for an unconverted try 5-5

Robinson soon featured in a collision in the air attempting to challenge for a high ball and received a yellow card while damaging his already fragile shoulder. From the penalty Bournemouth scored a converted try under the crossbar. 12-5

While Petersfield were down one player Bournemouth kicked to the corner for one of their pacy backs to intercept and cross the tryline for an unconverted try 17-5

Petersfield when returned to full strength were unable to capitalised against an excellent defence, with skilful players who took every opportunity to attack. One instance was where playing out of their twenty two a pass to the right wing lacked both accuracy and sympathy and fell behind the receiver for Bournemouth to scoop up the lose ball and charge the tryline for a further unconverted try. 22-5

Petersfield by now seemed to be falling too far behind to make much difference to the scoreline even though there was more than 45 minutes to play. Not helped by a yellow card for Zac Conley for indiscretion at the base of a ruck and from the penalty the host scored another, successfully converted, try 29-5

Petersfield were not to be discounted so soon as from deep in their half the ball was passed across the pitch from left to right where Archie Whitear moving forward passed back towards the left with passes by Brad Caparo and Matt McLean that reached the galloping Liam Perkins on the wing to dive over to score on half time an unconverted try 29-10

Within the first few minutes of the half a penalty against Petersfield resulted in an unexpected choice of execution when Bournemouth chose to kick at goal for three points. Was this an indication that the hosts were uncertain that their nineteen point lead was secure, the Petersfield traveling support questioned. 32-10

The host must have been reassured when four minutes later they added a converted try to their growing total and Zac Conley was restored to Petersfield strength 39-10

Petersfield transgressed in front of the post and Bournemouth again chose to kick 42-10
Petersfield were perhaps guilty of trying to force the pace in an attempt to score two more tries and secure a losing bonus point. During this period Bournemouth had a player sent to the bin which gave Petersfield’s pack encouragement to close the tryline with a series of pick and drives which are part of their standard tactic. From this Oli Hunt was able to touch the ball down for Joe Knowles to covert a third try and post a score of 42- 17

The visitors again profited from the player advantage Zac Conley returned after his yellow card found himself out wide with the ball and little close support so threw his two metre plus frame at the tryline to score the bonus point try and make Joe Knowles conversion possible 42-24

Unfortunately, Petersfield leaked another converted try and a kickable penalty to bring Bournemouth’s score to fifty two points. 52-24.

The last hurrah came from Petersfield’s Alex Robinson and Joe Knowles who scored the fifth try and successfully kicked the conversion. 52-31

With this try bonus point Petersfield hold on to sixth place in the league

This was a dogged effort by Petersfield against the skilful and committed league leaders, and it was satisfying to note that the visitors won the second half. Credit to the forwards who did not lose a lineout and were the equal if not superior in the set scrums. Meanwhile there were notable performances from the backs including Ethan Horsfall in defence and breaking out tight situations, Archie Whitear on the wing who did not see much ball but put himself about making a nuisance.

A further fallow week follows before Penns Place hosts Reeds Weybridge eleventh in the league on 28 February

Squad: Sam Brown, Jack Janaway, Dan Sargent, Oli Hunt, Franco Tomic, Zac Conley, Karter Whittock, Liam Perkins, Joe Knowles, Brad Caparo, Alex Robimson, Matt McLean, Seb Tuff, Ethan Horsfall, Jay Ireland, Tim Vreysen, Archie Whitear.