Petersfield RFC 2nd XV (12) v Solent University 2nd XV (51)

However, the score line does not tell the full story; the 2nd XV, finding themselves someway short of a full team, joined up with the 3rd XV team and agreed to rolling subs so all would get game time. From the off the Field side did not let themselves be overawed by the opposition and immediately took the game to Solent. The forwards battled away not giving an inch or allowing Solent the space or time to set their quick back line free. With Field dominating the breakdown, Solent found themselves pinned back in their own half and it was Field who created the mini breaks but couldn’t quite convert them into points. Eventually Solent capitalised on a rare lose ball to release their, otherwise unused, backs who cantered up-field to score in the corner despite an excellent chase and cover tackle from Saw Ward.

The score did not dent Field’s spirit and they continued in the same vein with the forwards, ably supported by the backs, willing to pick the ball and make the hard yards through sheer power and smashing the Solent defence out of the way. This continued to give Field the upper hand and they went through phase after phase with Blanks, Cosway, Groves and others providing the direct running and the gaps for Haslett and Ward to make darting runs and take Field within range of Solent’s line. Eventually the continued forward pressure allowed Deakin to pop through the Solent defence and score from short range, with Groves grabbing the extras and a 7-5 lead for Field. Sadly the lead was short lived as Solent began to realise that their best options lay with quick ball and releasing their backline as they grabbed another unconverted try.

Field stuck to their task and again and again with both quick offloads from the forwards and bashing Solent off the ball at the breakdown, until they again found themselves in Solent 22 and provided the opportunity for Groves to outsmart the Solent define to grab Field’s second try and draw level at 12-12.

It was only as the ½ hour came that the odd handling error mistake crept into Field play and this along with Solent getting the ball away quicker from the breakdown gave them the platform for their sharpbackline to stretch Fields defence and score twice in quick succession just before the interval, to take a 26-12 lead.
As more replacements joined the battle for Field in the 2nd half the team stuck to the task with the pattern of the 1st half continued. Field would make hard yards through their forwards with Winfield debutant Osbourne and others both making a menace of themselves around the breakdown both slowing things down as well as the forward linking together to create mini breaks. But then Solent would strike back through their quick and elusive runners, but neither side could grab the next try. Even when Field were camped back on their own line committed defence from the whole team stopped the Solent forwards in their tracks as they tried again and again to pop over the try line only to be met by a determined sea of red. Eventually Solent fed the ball wide through quick hands to score in the corner.

As the game wore on Solent found things increasingly open up as their age and fitness began to tell and both their backs and forwards shifted ball around to stretch Field again and again, and created the opportunity for several more tries for Solent. But never once did the Field team give up as they all battled right to the end.

All of the Field players can be undeniably proud with the effort and the determination the whole team put in as for the first half hour they more than held their own with mix of 2nd and 3rds against a team sat 2nd in the table. In the end it was the age and fitness of the young university players which allowed Solent to break away.
Next week, the 2nd XV travel to Tottonians with the hope of repeating the impressive victory they achieved in the home leg earlier in the season.

Report by Rupert Kellie