Table-toppers Field are one of four teams who remain undefeated in the league. However, they are the only side to maintain a perfect record of full points for each win.

As the first month of the 2019/20 season closes, the league already appears to have settled into three distinct groupings. Joining Field at the top table and also without a loss to their names are the usual suspects - Alton, Sandown & Shanklin and Millbrook. Meanwhile, Ellingham & Ringwood, New Milton and Farnborough are without a win at the bottom of the table.

If September has been a dream, October could throw up a couple of nightmares as Field host two of their current rivals on consecutive weekends. However, with the performances they have put together to date and the acknowledgement that there is still room for improvement, the side can face these challenges without fear.

Against Heathens, Field again demonstrated the growing cohesion of mind and purpose that has facilitated to their try-fest whilst showing an obduracy in defence that has been sublime compared to last season. Indeed, the only time when the side ‘fail’ is when they go off script and are tempted to force the play. The structures and processes that Head Coach, Jason Ford, and his team have introduced have created a playing environment that just looks fun to be a part of and the team plays with a quiet belief in themselves that sees them over the rougher passages of play.

As a case in point, Field started brightly against Heathens but had to weather a bitty first half that saw them unable to sustain a presence in their hosts’ half. The wind played some part in this as it blew hard and constant into their faces, but in large part was self-inflicted as a result of handling errors and finding themselves at the wrong end of the referee’s whistle.

Just before the end of the first quarter Field outside centre, Jordan Hunter, powered through the defence on halfway before outpacing the ensuing chase, fixing the waiting fullback and passing to outside half, Nick Blumlein, who finished under the posts. Blumlein’s subsequent conversion was never in doubt.

Such was their dominance in the scrum, Field could almost count on possession from the set-piece regardless of who had the feed. Following another take against the head Field set the backs free and left wing, Jordan Allan, scampered in unopposed for the first of his brace of tries. Blumlein, kicking into and across the gale, saw his kick sail past the far post.

While Heathens continued to fail to convert their territorial advantage into points the visitors appeared to have come to terms with the conditions and were starting to flow through the phases with a little more composure. Key to this was Jordan Hunter, who terrorised the Fareham midfield through the simple expedient of straightening his run and using his power and guile to break tackles and set his team on the front foot.

Field improved their territorial gains but handling errors continued to bedevil them and it took the red team until five minutes before the break to extend their lead to 19-points. Hunter again acting as provider but this time for Allan, who dragged a defender with him as he powered over the line. Blumlein nailed the conversion despite it looking more difficult than his previous attempt from a similar position.

Except for the final 10-minutes, the second half was Field’s. Unfortunately, during this period Field seemingly imploded, heaping pressure on themselves with a host of penalties and a yellow card – dangerous tackle - that led to their hosts scoring two unconverted tries.

Field’s fourth, bonus point, try came from a Heathens defensive 5m scrum. The red pack simply shoved their opposite numbers off the ball before marching them relentlessly back over their own try line where Field 8, Zak Jenkins, had the simple task of taking the score. Blumlein’s conversion kissed the near post but failed to go over.

Minutes later Field right wing, the evergreen Jay Bremner, was on hand to take the simplest of chances to cross under the posts from 5m out with no defender in sight. The extras added by Blumlein.

As the third quarter drew to a close, Field’s defence was becoming as potent as their attack, harrying the opposition at every opportunity to deny them time and space. At the end of the period, Jenkins was on hand to ground the ball under the posts making Blumlein’s kick a formality.

In the final few minutes of the match, Jenkins capped Field’s scoring with another try, again converted, this time a sweet peel from a lineout maul that the defence was driving back. With all eyes on the forward progress, there was no one to bother Jenkins as he sprinted down the blindside to score in the corner. This, followed in short order by a yellow card to Heathens for retaliation, was the last meaningful action of the game.

Field might want to look at the pace of their next match as this one seemed to play into the hands of their opponents; it took an age to
establish set pieces and this allied with the numerous injury stoppages and chats from the ref prevented Field from keeping their momentum up.

Field return home next week to face what, on paper, appears to be their biggest test so far this season; taking on Millbrook who share Field’s 100% winning record but sit fifth as a result of having played one game fewer. In their last outing, Millbrook beat Fareham Heathens by a converted try in a low scoring game. Kick off at the home of rugby in Petersfield is at 3pm.