Alton get the Indian sign on PRFC Twos this season

A 31-5 lose does not tell the tale of closed fought contest slugging it out in the mud and gloy of trench warfare-esque like conditions at Anstey. Petersfield will have to lrean to use their own fine, open grounds next season now to gain some measure of revenge over the olf foe.

'Field were glad to welcome back a few familiar faces who hadn't been seen on the pitch for a while: Matt Doe, Mark Christmas, Scott Godber, but the usual 'Field affliction of starting slowly (watching the opposition) caught them on the hop from the kick off. Alton showed their early attacking intent of using their speedy wingers - quickly recycling the ball off a couple of rucks and spreading the ball for their winger to step off the wing and find the gaping chasm in 'Fields defence.

Seven points down in five minutes and ‘Field woke up and took the game to Alton, quickly working out they had superiority in the forwards and in playing a tight game across the team. Petersfield exerted continuous pressure on the Alton defence and eventually this told with 'Field able to set up an attacking line out within Alton twenty-two.

Ashworth secured the ball off the top of the lineout from which the forwards set up a driving maul powering through the Alton defence and over the Alton line with Kellie and Ball sharing the spoils of scoring the try with no video ref available to separate who had actually last touched the ball!

The closely fought contest continued for rest of the half with Field enjoying far more territory and possession, but not quite lacking the killer instinct to get another score, so the muddied beasts entered half time at 7-5 to Alton.

The second half continued in much the same vain for the early battles from the trenches with each set of forwards intent on wearing the other side down in the sticky mudbath. But 'Field continued to hold the upper hand in terms of territory and possession sitting firmly in the Alton half.

But they were caught again on the hop when after a long run of sapping rucks, Alton managed to get their hands on the ball deep in their own half and spread the ball wide for their winger to scorch up the wing and score a try.

Soon after another opportunistic try fell to Alton as their alert winger was able to prevent a good kick from 'Field from heading out to touch deep in Alton half. This caught the visitors unaware and his turn of pace meant he was able to outpace the Field defence to the corner despite valiant attempts by Bateman and Waterfall to cover tackle in the corner.

'Field and Alton then took to full trench warfare and hand to hand battles as each set of forwards niggled at the other and the referee was unable to keep sight on all the goings on within each ruck and maul (Ball, Christmas, Godber, Williams et al using all their wiliness to wind up Alton), such that matters were taken into hands of both packs – never mind the ball get on with the game - and each side having to called up to calm matters down though the referee was never quite sure what was happening!

Unfortunately frustrations with both the referee and being not able to convert some of the territory and dominance in the forwards that 'Field had led to another breakaway try well executed by Alton. And it was only in the last fifteen minutes that 'Field's head started to drop having slugged out all day and had the equal of Alton (apart from the final killer instinct in scoring).

Alton again had great opportunity to score in the corner from their winger but a great covering tackle by Waterfall took their player into touch on the try line, though the referee awarded the try, the able though injured (from earlier in match) touch judge of Campbell Wilson corrected the referees call noting that his eagle eye had seen a boot in touch hence try was disallowed.

From the resulting line out a now upset Alton set up a driving maul and powered over the Field line for their fifth and final try. And so the game ended shortly afterwards with Field having battled well on tough day but unable to quite get the scores they had deserved, and Alton being rewarded for their patience.

“We fought well,” said skipper Rupert Kellie “but failed to deliver the killer blow. Fair play to Alton, the score says it all.“ So it’s onwards to the next game for Kellie’s Heroes and hopefully return to winning ways.