More pics courtesy of Derek Brewster here.

The forced rotation of personnel has been the only constant in a year of many lows and few highs. The Club has had to dig deep into its senior membership at times to even field a fifteen and whilst all concerned deserve an A+ for effort the results have pinned Field to one place above bottom for most of the season. After finishing comfortably mid-table in 2014-15, at the start of 2016 it looked like the side were destined for the drop.

Fortunately for Field, they were not the only ones struggling, Locksheath Pumas were nailed-on certainties for relegation before the turn of the year and Ellingham & Ringwood and Isle of Wight were mathematically within Field’s reach. Whilst IoW pulled away, the respective results for Field and Ellingham drew them closer together. With Ellingham finishing their season the previous Saturday, Field had a target to aim for in their match against Sandown & Shanklin; one bonus point would lift them from the drop zone and consign Ellingham to their second consecutive relegation.

Once again fielding a reshuffled team due to injuries, (Coach Patience, having long since run out of hair to pull out, took the latest blow in his stride), Field started brightly, kicking towards the Taro and keeping S&S penned in their own half. Field turned pressure into points with five minutes gone; Jack Lumbard spotting the opportunity to take a quick penalty to put Frasier Patience in on the left.

As the second quarter began, the possession had evened up and S&S had at last crossed the home side’s 22. Field failed to take the opportunities presented to them to clear their lines and the pressure mounted. S&S looked as though they would force a score but gave away a penalty at the crucial moment. Field again failed to take advantage and S&S went back on the attack, forcing a penalty which they kicked to bring them within 2-points.

As the half neared its end Field were in the ascendancy and this time it was S&S who transgressed under pressure. Try scorer turned provider, Frasier Patience took the penalty quickly feeding Jack Glancy who essayed one of his trademark mazey runs through the defence to score. The conversion missed, Field went into the break with a 7-point cushion.

The second half began with S&S in the driving seat but both sides once again contrived to give away penalties. The fractured play prevented S&S from building on their possession, whilst Field continued to miss chances to turn the tables. Halfway through the third quarter, S&S looked certain to score but some terrific tackling by Field caused a knock-on to deny the visitors.

Field continued to weather the storm until the start of the last quarter when S&S turned over a defensive scrum in the Field 22 and drove for the line. When the scrum collapsed, the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try. The conversion a formality, S&S levelled the score.

The final quarter was an understandably tense affair for the large and vocal home support but Field at least were playing it in the right half of the pitch, once again threatening the S&S try-line. Despite getting within inches of the line at times, the red team could not breach the S&S defence. As the clock ticked down, S&S looked to clear their lines with a boot up field. The impressive 2nd XV lock, Franko Tomíc, chased the pass and charged down the kick, following up to collect the ball and drop over the line.

S&S battled hard in the closing seconds to reverse the score but Field’s defence held to secure the team their fifth win of the season and, most importantly, more than enough points to take them above Ellingham and guarantee League 1 rugby at Penns Place next season.