Petersfield welcomed Havant II (Dolphins), their local rivals, to Penns Place on Saturday for a Regional II South Central mid-table clash. Conditions, both of the pitch and weather, favoured an open game, giving both teams’ back lines a chance to demonstrate their skills and ability.

Petersfield, playing towards the Taro Centre, collected the kick-off and, through a series of mauls, advanced up the pitch for number eight Liam Perkins to crash through the visitors’ defence and score a try. Brad Caparo converted to post seven points within sixty seconds. 7–0

Havant responded through their pacy backs, with an angled run from deep avoiding would-be tacklers to dot down close to the posts for their first converted try just six minutes into the match. 7–7

With Havant penalised fifteen metres out in front of their own posts, Brad Caparo teed up a successful penalty kick. 10–7

Petersfield appeared energised by their modest lead and fashioned a period of play that involved most of the fifteen players, with some of the most accurate and successful passing seen this season. As the ball travelled across the pitch twice, on its third journey Matt McLean chose to chip through the obdurate Havant defence. As the ball bounced through, it appeared it would beat all players to the dead-ball line. Three Petersfield players, including number seven Karter Whittock, set off in pursuit, shadowed by two Havant defenders. Spectators anticipated the ball would go dead, but Whittock’s determined run saw him reach it first to claim a try. Caparo’s difficult conversion struck the post and bounced out for an unconverted try. 15–7

Havant, from the restart, attacked Petersfield’s half using similar passing moves and were successful in stretching the defence to run through for their second converted try, closing the gap to one point. 15–14

Once again, with less than twenty minutes on the clock, Havant troubled the scoreboard by weaving their way through a somewhat desperate and ineffectual Petersfield defence to score their third converted try. 15–21

From a penalty lineout, Petersfield constructed a rather disorganised maul that could easily have collapsed under its own momentum. Dan Sargent, carrying the ball, fell over the try line to claim a try, which was unconverted. 20–21

With less than thirty minutes played, touchline and neutral spectators were speculating on a likely final score, while others noted that Petersfield’s passing game was possibly the best of the season, although they were perhaps playing too expansively in or near their own half.

From a lineout inside Havant’s ten-metre line, Petersfield’s back line were positioned to attack rather than defend. With the ball secured from the maul, two passes across the back line found a Havant back alert to intercept, blasting through for a free run to the try line and a converted score. 20–28

A Havant cross-field kick was caught by Petersfield ten metres from their try line, but the ball was ripped away, from which Havant scored a converted try to take their total to thirty-five. With half-time yet to be called and Petersfield trailing by fifteen points, the match looked to be slipping away. Half-time was signalled with no further score. 20–35

The second half opened with Petersfield refreshed from the break, which was crucial as, due to injury, availability, and a second-team fixture, the home side’s replacements had been reduced to just one player: former first-team manager Jamie Williams. The plan was clearly to hold him in reserve unless absolutely necessary.

One minute into the second half, Matt McLean took a pass and spotted a route through Havant’s scattered defence around the pack. In typical McLean style, he stepped off one foot to send a defender the wrong way before cutting through to score under the posts. Caparo added the extras. 27–35

Havant responded when a Petersfield cross-field clearance was caught by their left winger, who scored a solo try under the posts. The conversion, however, was charged down by second row Franco Tomic. 27–40
Havant then added another unconverted try. 27–45

At this stage, Petersfield looked unlikely to win, and even a losing bonus point seemed doubtful. A penalty for holding on in front of the posts allowed Havant to take an easy three points. 27–48

From a penalty lineout deep in what is affectionately known as Albury’s Corner, Petersfield’s forwards drove a maul over the line for a Caparo-converted try. 34–48

As time ran down, from another Petersfield lineout, scrum-half Joe Knowles slipped through the Havant defence to score close to the posts. Caparo converted. 41–48

Havant secured a try bonus point, while Petersfield collected both a try and losing bonus point. The result leaves both teams level on fifty-seven league points, with Petersfield remaining in sixth place by virtue of a superior points difference.

This was an exciting match and one in which the entire Petersfield squad played an important role.

Squad:
Will Norton, Sam Brown, Dan Sargent, Franco Tomic, Ryan Morse, Zac Conley, Karter Whittock, Liam Perkins, Joe Knowles, Ethan Horsfall, Matt McLean, Seb Tuff, Jim Tribe, Tom Blewitt, Jamie Williams

Next week, bottom-of-the-table Ellingham & Ringwood provide the opposition for the final home league game of the season, with the pre-match lunch attended by Past Captains & Players.