On Saturday at Penns Place over One Hundred guest attended the pre-match lunch where two former playing members were remembered, Mark Hipsey and Mike Garner, both of whom passed away in the last year.

Posting a nil score, the first time since January 2023, Petersfield were soundly beaten in atrocious playing conditions on Saturday, the visiting team better prepared for managing the game in such poor weather. On a very wet day the rain emulating a monsoon with some standing water in areas of the pitch Old Tiffinians dominated the scrums, of which there were many, caused by knock-ons of the greasy ball by both teams.

Petersfields usually dominant pack were taken apart by the visitors strong and streetwise forwards both in the set piece and in lose play.

Tiffinians had scored two converted tries within fifteen minutes through the platform of their pack while their host had hardly exited their half. Petersfield appeared to be unable to adjust to the wet and windy weather throughout the match as they were shunted off their scrum ball on several occasion and when in possession attempted to breach Tiffians defence by spreading the ball wide and introducing their backs to penetrate the visitors defence.

This tactic has over the seasons stood Pertersfield in good stead but is unsuited to playing a game style that required the old method of “sticking it up the jersey” and rumbling forward. That the experienced front five could not impose themselves on the opposition or their teammates demonstrates the power of Tiffinians forwards.

Despite Petersfield failing to impress the referee or their opponents in equal measure on several occasions the half time score of nil twenty one showed the hosts dogged determination to stay in contention and perhaps get within seven points of the visitors to rescue a losing bonus point.

In the second half with driving rain and strong wind at their backs Field were able to spend more time in Old Tiffinians half. With the bench emptied to replace injured players and positional changes, holding Tiffinians to just one extra try was an achievement.

With results elsewhere in the league going with form Petersfield drop to seventh and hope that next week’s home game versus fifth placed Havant twos, who are in that position by virtue of more bonus points, can reverse their fortunes.

Petersfield Squad: Jackson Clark, Will Norton, Dan Sargent, Liam Perkins, Zac Conley, Alex Robinson, Jack Janaway, Karter Whittock, Joe Knowles, Brad Caparo, Seb Tuff, Tom Blewitt Miles Sampson, Eddie Matthews, Charlie Muir. Replacements, Owen Davies Oli Hunt, Dan Chinnock.

Note the above score is from the RFU website at 21:00 22-11-25, locally we recorded 0-35