On Saturday at the picturesque Whiteley Village ground of Reeds Weybridge Petersfield’s Frist XV played an all court game that they attempted with disappointment against Bournemouth two weeks ago while posting 8 tries and gaining 5 league points moving to fifth in league . Reeds were hoping to reverse their recent form by playing on their own pitch in ideal weather conditions local advantage might have been gained by the notorious end to end slope on their pitch.

Petersfield were perhaps lucky to be awarded the kick off down the slope removing Reeds home advantage and after adjusting to the distance kicks could travel took full advantage of their field position. The host are a lively team with both forwards and backs willing to run at the visitors and through tackles and did so “up the hill” putting initial pressure on their visitors

After six minutes two handling errors one for each team had Petersfield pack at the first scrum put Reeds pack under pressure. The second scrum on Reeds put in they cleared their line and spread the ball wide sufficient for full back Charlie Muir to intercept a pass and using his considerable pace run 60 metres to score under the posts for fly half Brad Caparo to add the extras. 0-7

Next to trouble Reed’s recently installed electronic scoreboard was Toby Colwood reportedly playing his last game for Field before he relocates to Ashford in Kent to take up a job offer. Once again Petersfield secured scrum ball and passed it right. Reeds defence was in the face of Fields centres and slick hands, and quick thinking changed the direction of the attack across the pitch to the left with both Miles Sampson and Greg Jansen contributing and the industrious back row of Jack Janaway, Ales Robinson and the ever present Karter Whittock all providing go forward. A long pass to full back Charie Muir in the left fifteen metre channel look to provide a second try. Reeds defenced closed him down and a near perfect inside pass to winger Colwood had him sprint though to chase across the in goal area to dot down under the post for Caparo to improve 0-14

From a lineout in the corner of Petersfield right wing Petersfield retained possession and hammered at the tryline with five attempts to cross the line. Captain and Prop Dan Sargent made a break but was being challenged and passed to his left, second row Zac Conley, number eight Karter Whittock and hooker Will Norton threatened until a pass to the accelerating Toby Colwood had him cross near the corner for an unconverted try 0-19

With ten minutes of the half to play both teams engaged in a little kick tennis. Petersfield relieving kick from their five metre was cleanly gathered and returned this was caught by Petersfield and seeing space behind Reeds on Colwood’s wing the ball was kick to space where an on running Reeds back pouched the ball and beat all Petersfield defence to score in the corner and unconverted try. 5-19.

With Petersfield pack putting pressure on Reeds twenty two after Oli Hunt had again secured lineout ball the visitors spread the ball across the defence in an attempt to open it up and it was Charlie Muir who again scored an unconverted try and secured a bonus point with the fourth unconverted try. 5-24

Early in the second half, with Petersfield experiencing playing up hill, and managing to corral their host within their twenty two, by using the full width of the pitch, it was from the right fifteen metre thirty metre from the tryline that Caparo launched a pinpoint kick pass that fell to replacement back Mackenzie Van Luaun to close the tryline for prop Jackson Clark to carry the ball over to score 5-29

Dan Sargent next added to the try count after a period of concentrated pressure and with a penalty advantage by burrowing over in the left corner with assistance from replacement forward Sam Brown. 5-34

While Petersfield’s back row replacement Liam Perkins was yellow carded after a high tackle and a cameo appearance of no more than fifteen minutes, Greg Jansen went into a scrum and Archie Whitear on as replacement back moved to inside centre. He received the ball from scrum half Joe Knowles and timed a delightful, floated pass into the hands of speeding Miles Sampson who scored between the posts for a converted try. 5-41

Meanwhile with less than ten minutes to play Reeds breached Fields line and scored a converted try between the post 12-41

Charlie Muir finished his hattrick out wide with an unconverted try 12-46 and as time ran out Reeds, attempting to score twice more for a losing bonus point, through caution to the wind and crossed for an unconverted try at no side 17-46

This was the performance Petersfield had threatened to deliver since the start of the season where both Forwards and Backs played an equal role. The backs linked and combined with confidence and purpose while the handling errors were reduced. The Pack played their part in subduing the opposition., dominating the set piece, winning two scrum penalties, and once they controlled their enthusiasm for appealing, managed the match official. As a former Petersfield coach once said “take the referee out of the game”

With another fixture free Saturday next week Petersfield return to Penns Place to welcome new opponents Old Tiffinians when the pre match lunch will be the annual Tribute Lunch where the club remembers those who are no long with us.