Three Wins on the Bounce for Rejuvenated Seconds ......

PETERSFIELD II XV 46pts -v- TOTTONIANS 22

Petersfield started the match again lacking a full front row. With one prop short, a commodity proving thin on the ground at the club at the moment, the game had to go uncontested at the scrums. Added to this ‘Field were down to fourtee men from the kick off with a late pull out from Crabtree due to illness (or possibly because he needed time to wax his chest!)

Despite these set backs, the Twos refused to let this dampen their spirits and right from the kick off ‘Field had Totts under pressure and pinned back in their own half. A series of quick rucks released the backs with the ball shifted quickly along the back line with Harley Orr outwitting the Totts defence and going over in the corner for his first try for Petersfield.

Field kept up the pressure to score a second fairly soon after following an opportunistic move by Alex Groves who, alert to the opportunity of a quick throw in to himself in his own twenty-two. He stormed upfield, breaking through the Tottonians line and many desperate tackles. A great offload in Totts twenty-two sent Franks over to score the second try of the match. At this point the magically recovered Crabtree appeared on the touchline looking none the worse for his brief bout of illness,and was dispatched to get his kit on and get ‘Field up to fifteen players.

With now a full complement of players on the pitch ‘Field continued to dominate the territory and possession through doing all the simple
things well, forwards working together to create quick ruck ball from which the backs, marshalled by Campbell Wilson, put ball through hand and had Totts defence scrambling to hold them back. Twice ‘Field breached the Totts try line, but both times were held up within inches of scoring and so couldn’t take use of long periods of advantage

But the home XV continued to plug away and eventually the dynamic centre partnership of Franks and Deakin (enjoying his time away from playing in the backrow) told and a well executed move between the two released Deakin to score.

At this point Totts decided that the tight game was going to work much better for them with their older wizened pack and, sure enough, this tactic soon led to increased pressure on ‘Field as more and more of the home pack being sucked into rucks/mauls, Errors crept into the play across the team. Totts capitalised on this to score a try shortly before the end of the first half, with the half ending 17-5 in Field’s favour.

Into the second half and ‘Field returned to simple rugby they executed so well in first twenty minutes of the match with the forwards using their eyes and heads and not over committing in the ruck and mauls. A number of great surges up the ‘Field by Tom Ball, who was ever present over the whole park during the match, led to an offload which released Franks through to score his second try of the match.

‘Field continue to exert pressure with some quick offloads between forwards with the towering Ashworth and Dan Groves making inroads into the Totts defence. After a series of attacks in the twenty-two, skipper Kellie was able to take the ball on and power through Totts defence and with the support of the forwards bundle over the line to score the fifth try.

Totts hit back with couple more tries, but this did not dent ‘Field’s ambition and their sixth try came from an interesting sliced chip kick from Wilson, which was rescued by Bateman on the touchline. He expertly caught and offloaded the ball in one move to an onrushing Deakin, who scored his second.

‘Field continued to show full commitment right throughout the team and from the continued quick ruck ball and speedy service from Hooper to the back line – Franks was again released by Deakin to thread his way through the Totts defence and pick up his hat trick try.

‘Field’s final try of the match was set up by another surge up field by Ball to then release the back line and send Alex Groves over to score Fields eigth try. Totts had time to hit back with consolidation try, but by this point the match was long gone from them.

“ It was overall a superb all round team performance” said skipper Rupert Kellie after. “With every player giving it their all, the performance was great and it was great to welcome Dan Groves to Twoss on his senior debut. He played an integral part in the win. Another great win for ‘Field (three on the trot, now) and the continuity in having a core group of players turning out each Saturday is reaping the rewards, it just needs to continue and hopefully come the New Year, we will manage to regularly field a full front row.

The Seconds final match before Christmas next Saturday down at US Portsmouth, kick-off 2.00 p.m, 12.45 p.m meet aat clubhouse for 1.00 p.m departure.