On a perfect day for rugby Petersfield met top of the table Winchester, who were on a run of three wins. Petersfield were a composition of Twos & Vets, lead firmly by Campbell Wilson

....., lead firmly by Campbell Wilson and they battered a hard-working Winchester side from the beginning, running out worthy winners.
From the off, Petersfield pressurised the visitors’ line and were rewarded an early score when Franks broke through several tackles for an excellent individual try under the posts. Wilson converted. Field continued to attack most positively the Winchester line, with great back play from the driving Dyer, Luff and Groves, who were all being denied scores on the line.

It was only Winchester’s hard work and speed at the breakdown that prevented further scores before the half although a fine move from Wilson and Groves put ‘Utility’ Deakins clean through, only for the big man to drop the ball yards from the line. Then ‘Honest’ Groves looked to have scored, after the Winch fly-half dropped the ball in his goal area, but Groves, very fairly, put his hands up and admitted that he had not grounded the ball and the score remained seven – nil at the half.

Restarting with good purpose, ‘Field took the game right back to the Old Capital’s XV as the second half started and sustained pressure from the home forwards paid off. Groves broke through to score a good try in the corner, before Man-of-the-Match Waterfall added a second powering through three tackles from a five-metre scrum. (19-0)

Petersfield continued to press the visiting defence gaining with good yardage from Franks and Blanks, forcing Winchester back. They were forced to concede a further five metre scrum, which allowed the ever-present Cuthbertson barnstorm over for a fine prop’s score. (24-0)
With Winchester resistance, dwindling their frustration turned them sour and there was an outbreak or two of ‘handbagging’. Referee Geoff Paice, who had a cracking afternoon, took no nonsense and allowed it to peter out as the two packs spent their energies trundling into each other. “Two sets for of props, all eighty years of experience between them, what will they learn from me/ remarked laconically after. Quite right to, perhaps some of the so-called elite referees could learn from Geoff?

‘Field dealt with these with further powerful runs from Cuthbertson and Waterfall in the loose. Birthday boy Barden got in n the act before retiring to eat all the pies and it is worth commenting that this the first game for some time Matt Higson has managed to not get a spanking or to be sent off – but early doors, yet, says skipper Wilson, we have had a four week lay-off, after all.

The right at the death a high ball into the visitors' twenty-two gave Winchester fullback Atheling to chance to counter-attack. He was comprehensively and superbly tackled by Deakins and only a knock-on stopped a further score. Holden burst through to score and to cap an excellent Petersfield performance, built on a solid forward platform. Winchester did rally late on but it was too little, too late. The Fyrd had once again collapsed to Petersfield ‘Norman’ horsemen and it was a somewhat dejected and well-beaten team that left Penns that night.