At the end of a season that’s been nip and tuck all the way, it all came down the final game for Field, beating Weybridge Vandals 36-33 to leapfrog them and claim second place in London South West Three League. Warlingham trumped all without lifting a finger courtesy of an away walkover against Old Emanuel.

With Past Captains and former players at a pre match lunch, three coach loads of Vandals support, a large contingent of Vandals’ Colts and huge support from club members, friends and town spectators upwards of 600 lined the touch line barriers.

The bright, cool, calm and dry conditions favoured both teams’ ambitions to play an open and fast game. Petersfield were first to score just seven minutes into the match, battering at the Vandals defence through eight phases for scum half Alex Duffus to pass to the ever present second row Franco Tomić to dot down for a try from ten metres, converted by Nick Blumlein. 7-0

Six minutes later Vandals scored a penalty after Field were pinged for offside 7-3

From the restart Petersfield were unable to control the ball and Vandals shipped it left to their lightning scrum half who scorched down the wing to round a despairing defence for an unconverted try 7-8

The frenetic pace at which both teams played resulted in several knock-ons and scrums or relieving kicks to touch for competitive lineouts.
From a lineout Field took clean ball and in a textbook rolling maul marched Vandals back 10 metres for prop Ryan Wilkie to score a converted try. 14-8

In the second quarter after a period of stalemate that could have seen either team penetrate to score Vandals were the beneficiary of an attack that caught Field holding on at the tackle and a quick tap by Vandals had them over the whitewash for a converted try 14-15

Having secured the restart by holding up Vandals catcher and mauling Field were awarded a scrum which they won. The second pass to their centres hit the referee which resulted in another scrum which again was won but the pass went behind the Field player. Vandals scrum half scooped up the ball and sprinted clear while his support, to the left, passed the ball to an equally quick inside centre to score an unconverted try 14-20

Vandals again scored with just a minute of the half to play a converted try that went through many hands from a lineout once again Field’s defence undone by the pacey Vandals backs. Half Time 14-27

A comment from a Vandals supporter at Half Time was that the side who scored next might go on to win the game as it was agreed that the scoreboard did not fairly reflect how closely matched both teams were.

Ten minutes into the half Field full back Tom Land caught a Vandals kick for touch and set off at speed from inside his twenty two to be tackled on half way but unloaded to prop Jackson Clarke. Clarke charges up the park to pass to inside centre Elliot Siddle who sprinted forty metres to round Vandals defence for a converted try 21-27

Vandals were awarded a penalty for in at the side of a ruck in front of the post which they kicked to add to their score 21-30

Petersfield who were defending with aggression and determination that added to the potential for penalties, Vandals were awarded a further kickable penalty which to their disappointment went left of the posts. 21-30

After dominating in the set scrum all game the forwards got their reward with a penalty in front of the visitors posts which Nick Blumlein converted 24-30

With twelve minutes of the half to run a Petersfield high tackle gave Vandals a third kickable penalty instead of going for the corner and a lineout, this time they were successful 24-33

From the restart Petersfield’s number seven Nick Wilde took the ball over the line after it had passed through several hands from the opposite side of the pitch, the conversion was missed. 29-33

Vandals next had a kickable penalty which failed to impress the scoreboard 29-33. Petersfield with six minutes left on the clock had a penalty lineout 15 metres out. A long throw to Franco Tomić at the rear was safely gathered and a maul set up which advanced up pitch. Eventually thirteen Field players joined in leaving just the left wing and fullback covering a breakout. The maul trundled on, Vandals had no sign of holding it and Nick Wilde was the man to place the ball down under a celebratory heap of players Blumlein adding the extras. 36-33

Just 3 minutes to play and Vandals threw every player at Petersfield only for their defence to stand firm and at yet another maul strip the ball from Vandals and kick into touch on the final whistle.

A fine game played by two skilful and competitive teams, supported with good humour and sportsmanship from the touchline the result was important and the sport of rugby was the winner.

Petersfield squad: Jackson Clarke, Sam Brown, Ryan Wilkie, Ryan Morse, Franco Tomic, Zak Jenkins, Nick Wilde, Matt momber, Alex Duffus, Nick Blumlein, Miles Sampson, Elliot Siddle, Greg Jansen, Jordan Allan, Tom Land, Eryn Eales, Lloyd Sampson, Andy Barnes.

When the dust settled, Club President, Clive Waller, congratulated the side and praised Head Coach Vicky Alexander together with her support staff Assistant Coaches Charlie Hoff and Harry Green, Team Manager Dave Duffus, Magius McGarr, the indispensable “kit man” Kevin Groves and the team of Physios for their dedication and unstinting support of the players.

Postscript - They think it's all over...?
What does second place in London South West Three mean to Petersfield RFC? Nobody really knows as the Rugby Football Union are attempting recast the adult junior league structure for next season and are yet to go public with any decision. Promotion would previously been the expectation for at least the league’s top two clubs though what this might now look like is guesswork. In RFU parlance, London South West Three is at “level eight” and promotion would have meant a move up to “level seven” the club awaits the official word and will prepare in expectation of moving to “level seven”!