Petersfield 2nd XV (22) v US Portsmouth 2nd XV (19)

The match at Penns Place was always going to be heated as both teams are virtually level pegging in the Hampshire Merit table.

But driving US Pompey was the desire to draw level in the home and away series, after Petersfield won the opener at Barnaby Road, Portsmouth.

And from the kick off US charged into the home side, their loose forwards carrying the ball to great effect, their backs linking well, and all in all looking the more motivated team.

The contest was at its physical best at the breakdown, with US players launching themselves into the ruck and 'the Field forwards robustly driving them back.

And as the first half wore on the home side slowly got on top, winning good scrum and lineout ball, giving the 'Field backs fast ball to attack with.

But time and again the last pass was either knocked on, dropped, or intercepted by the US backs, who used the free possession intelligently by out flanking and out sprinting the cover defence three times to score. Two of the tries were converted, leaving the score at 19-0 in the visitors favour at half time.

During the break skipper Derek Eldridge and No 8 Bim Mackay urged greater effort and patience, stressing that, despite being on the wrong end of the scoreline, Petersfield were playing the better rugby.

And straight from the retstart Mackay, supported by flanker Tom Harrington, caught the ball and drove into the onrushing US forwards, the ruck was won by Petersfield, the ball shipped out to Sam Ward who surged down the wing, cut inside, broke a tackle and scored.

From the restart 'Field again caught and charged, and from the ensuing ruck scrum half Benji Cosway, who had an outstanding game, launched his backs and this time passes were to hand, the ball stuck, and Eldridge carved thruogh the US defence, only be tackled short of the line, the ball came 'Fields way and fly half Matt Doe jinked through to score.

He kicked the two point conversion, and Petersfield were on a high. A shocked US, comfortably in charge just minutes before, were now faced with a desperate dog fight to avoid defeat.

Once again from the restart Petersfield launched another attack, with Barden ball in hand driving through the US forwards, the ball went to ground and came out 'Fields side, and yet again Doe and his supporting backs attacked at pace down the pitch.

Brought down just shy of the US try line full back Charley Attwood pushed the ball back and the charging 'Field forwards brushed aside the visitors defence, scooped it up and surged over for a try in the corner.

With the kick missed and just 10 minutes to go, the score stood at 19-17 in USs favour.

US launched attack after attack, desperate to keep Petersfield deep in their own half, at one point Mackay, on his own and faced with three fast closing US players, launched a spiralling touch kick to save a certain score.

As the referee, John Holden, started looking at his watch more frequently, indicating full time was close, Doe unexpectedly slipped past his opposite number and then won the foot race to score under the US posts.

Minutes later full time was blown and 'Field left the pitch deserved winners.

Skipper Eldridge said: "It was a great game to win, and could have gone either way right up until the final whistle. Everyone stuck at it, and eventually after the first half errors, we came good."

Report by: Jon Walker