Petersfield dominate a strong Andover team despite low numbers

Petersfield RFC development squad were again in league action this week after their emphatic win over a strong Stoneham side last weekend; this time Field faced the daunting prospect of Andover at home. Andover, always a good strong side, would offer very different opposition and challenges to previous games.

Selection this week had seen so many changes with players still carrying injuries or a dreaded bug that has been moving through all the senior squads and, with the 1st XV away, the Development squad took a further the hit losing 4 key players who had been called up.

Selection changes were still being made as late as Friday evening at the managers/coaches get-together at the club, with so many waiting on final calls from the physio for availability. That said, the Development squad still had a strong starting XV with the bulk of the regular team in place, albeit with many playing out of position.

At the kick-off Field had just the bare 15-players, so went for it knowing that any injury would mean having to play with a man (or more) down. From the kick-off, Andover’s intent was made clear; a big powerful ball carrying team, they competed very hard at the break down. For a large spell in the opening ten minutes, the home side was penned into its own 22.

The first score was taken from a well-worked move from Andover who drove the ball on before eventually reaching for the line, Field could do nothing to stop the well-drilled Andover pack. Recognising that we needed to keep moving the already blowing Andover side around we started adding width, stretching the opposition and making some good yards.

The game continued with some great collisions, Field resolute in defence stopping wave after wave of Andover attack while using their own field position and some good, slick handling to put the visitors on the back foot until their defence started creaking. Some great backs interplay and strong running lines from Matt Painter saw the Andover finally stretched to capacity and with a good ripple ball we were through them like a knife through butter and under the posts for the first Field score.

Constant pressure saw the Petersfield back line cut Andover to pieces, calling on our big powerful forwards every now and then just to tidy things up and allow our back line to find space. New face in the shirt this year, Tim Thomas, outpaced the Andover cover to score under the posts.

The game was very attritional, Andover only kept in the game by the over-exuberance of the Petersfield defence. Petersfield however remained focused and continued to defend well soaking up the Andover attacks.

Midway through the second half the game naturally opened up and Petersfield began running in scores for fun, Jordan Allan cutting some brutal straight lines at pace; Andover could just not get near him or stop him when they did. Combined with the forwards' immense tackling and resolute defence at the breakdown - with huge surging runs from Dan Groves and Matt Edes - Andover were struggling all over the park.

The game was concluded with a pin-point cross field kick from a penalty; Jordan Allan identified the narrow Andover defence and he kicked to the far corner with such precision that Captain Gerry Devlin was able to gather and dot down for the final score.

That’s two wins in a row and the Development squad roll on, next Portsmouth another big test but this Development squad are incredible and deserve their climb to the top of the league…..