(Match report c/o Chris Todd)

Two yellow cards for Petersfield First XV made winning this match a tough proposition as they played for 20 minutes with just 14 players on the park. Petersfield were much changed from the previous week as once again several regular members were unavailable while just one debutant, Lewis McGarr, was added to the bench. This teenager has been learning his adult rugby trade in the Second XV and that form found him called up to the First XV, where he played with a maturity and commitment beyond his relative inexperience.

From the kick off Petersfield took the game and ball to Old Walcountians who were keen to return the favour. The close contact in rucks and mauls had tackles going in hard from both sides and with just two minutes played Walcountians were penalised for not releasing, Nick Blumlein obliging with a regulation penalty. 0-3

On eight minutes Petersfield won good quick scrum ball and with great handling through half backs and backs Jordan Allan on the right wing touched down for Blumlein to convert 0-10

From the restart Walcountians regained possession and moving left to right tried valiantly to penetrate Field’s defence which while holding firm though losing ground incurred a penalty. Referee Sean Wickes allowed a long period of advantage to the point that Walcountians right wing looked certain to score only to be halted by the ref’s whistle and called back to a similar position on the other wing.

A tapped penalty and an untidy maul, Field looking to hold up the opposition had Walcountians back row brake away and crash over for an unconverted try. 5-10

Petersfield were next to score a well-executed try from a left wing ruck outside the hosts twenty two clean quick ball went through 6 pairs of hands for Jordan Allan to take the final pass to touch down for an unconverted try. 5-15

Ten minutes of the half to play Walcountians, whose support play was of a high standard were slipping tackles and dancing round defenders to be rewarded with a converted try 12-15

The restart had Field attacking in the hosts twenty two to be halted by a penalty which also found Back Row Zak Jenkins the recipient of a Yellow card to spend the next ten minutes on the sideline, Walcountians adding to their score 15-15.

The visitors’ fourteen men held out for the rest of the half against a determined host the score remaining 15 all.

In the second half Petersfield were first to score from a penalty lineout rucking and mauling through six phases for the restored Zak Jenkins to triumphantly thump the ball down over the line for an unconverted try 15-20

Walcountians half time team talk, and judicious use of their replacements had them using their fast and talented back line to full effect. They were galloping down the left wing seemingly without any Field defensive cover when the sprinting Miles Sampson arrived to tackle their winger as he dived for the line just a metre out. In the view of the referee the tackle was illegal and high dismissing Sampson with a yellow card and awarding a penalty try. 22-20

A quickly taken free kick by Walcountians from an early engagement at a scrum had their backline motoring through the Field traffic to score an unconverted try 27-20.

While Petersfield were still suffering from Sampson’s Yellow Card the host scored a magnificent try from inside their own half with their rapid Outside Centre taking the final pass to score close to the post for a converted try 34-20

Field now back to full strength and full of diehard vigour charged up the field gaining ground from every breakdown and winning a rare scrum penalty when yet again the host’s lose head could not support his side of the scrum.

Good phase play from Petersfield pack and support from the backline got the visitors within metres of the try line and the ever reliable, ever present Franco Tomic crashed over for a try that Nick Blumlein converted. 34-27

Despite determined attack from Petersfield Walcountians defence held firm to see out the last five minutes with no scores added Full time 34-27

Squad: Moore, Wilde, Wilkie, Morse Tomic, Jenkins, Momber, Whitehouse, Duffus, Blumlein, M Sampson, L Sampson, Allan, Sidell, McGuican, McGarr, Matthews, Barnes.

Petersfield Head Coach Vicky Alexander praised her team for their dogged defence and noted that two of Walcountians tries were scored with a man advantage while one was gifted as a penalty try. She remarked that as a coach she could not have asked for a more committed display though there were areas of play that will be addressed at training in preparation for the away game at Trojans next week and top of the table clash at Penns Place versus Weybridge Vandals on 2 April.

Petersfield have no games in hand, have 81 league points as have Warlingham and are just two points short of Weybridge Vandals while Warlingham’s superior points difference keep them second in the league.