2nd's Remain 1st with Dominant Half

While their 1st XV colleagues were taking a trip across the briny to the Isle of Wight, Field’s 2nd XV were looking to keep their unbeaten league record rolling with a home fixture against Tottonians Badgers – a.k.a. Vets – XV that plays a league below Totts 2nd XV and one above their 3rd XV club mates.

The teams took to the pitch under a steady, chilling drizzle that carried on remorselessly throughout the match but, fortunately, without the breeze that so often accompanies it.

The first half for Field was one they would probably want to forget; whilst they had a fair share of territory and possession, handling errors at critical moments prevented the side from turning red zone pressure in to points.

Their guests, however, didn’t appear to have the same issue, scoring two tries in the first quarter, one unconverted, to take them into the break with a 12-point lead. However, all was not completely rosy in the Badgers’ camp at halftime as they had to see out the last five-minutes with 14-men, courtesy of a ‘team’ yellow following a series of breakdown indiscretions when defending their try-line.

Anyone expecting more of the same in the second half were swiftly disabused as Field returned to the match with a gusto that had been missing in the first forty-minutes. Quicker ball from the breakdown and Field’s continuing dominance of the scrum provided the home side with front foot ball that they didn’t waste. After four minutes, Seb Kay bulldozed his way through to open Field’s account, doubled halfway through the third quarter with a trademark run from the quicksilver Eddie Matthews. With both tries scored on the wings, the kicks proved just beyond the reach of standoff, Dan Dryden. Field had equalled the tries scored by their guests but needed to score again to take the lead.

Field continued to harry the Badgers and were rewarded with their third try as the third quarter came to a close, Kay adding to his earlier score and having the presence of mind to present Dryden with a kinder kick which he took with ease.

The Red Team were looking more like the side that had scored 5-bonus point wins from their previous half-a-dozen games in the league. Confidence restored, they went hunting for their sixth against a tiring Tottonians who were struggling to clear their lines and relieve the constant Field pressure.

The final five minutes saw a flurry of tries, first with Matthews crossing again – sent into a huge gap by Kay’s flat delivery before easily stepping two despairing defenders to score behind the posts. Dryden added the easy extras.

Game well and truly won, Field took their foot off the gas from the restart and paid the price as the Badgers returned the favour with their third try of the match, unconverted. The visitors' resurgence was short-lived, however, as a weak clearance kick in the face of Field pressure acted as a cross-field kick pass to right wing, Oli Crosdil. The youngster made sure of the slippery ball before barrelling in for Field’s fifth and final try – unconverted – to deny the Badgers a losing bonus.

The 2nd XV remain at home for their next match, apparently against Chineham’s 1st XV, who sit mid table with a 43% win ratio and who Field beat by 22-points at the end of October.