A seasoned but untested Petersfield vets team travelled the A3 corridor to Broadwater Sports facility to play their opener of a six game fixture list. Guildford, strong and unbeaten last season, fielded an experienced and confident XV to entertain the sparse but educated crowd.

Petersfield’s warriors from the past several decades opened their account in the warm sunshine unwilling to be moved by reputation and immediately set out their stall. A multiphase 5 minutes culminating in a well worked try the evergreen Derek Eldridge. The initial break came from the teams cabin boy James Howell-Richardson who straightened off fly half Reece. The ball was recycled quickly by Scrum half and naval hero Jon Holroyd allowing Eldridge run in. The missed conversion made it 0 -5 after five minutes and gave the home team and crowd a sniff of things to come.

In the first half Petersfield gave a strong account in all the set pieces plays. Ian Cuthbertson, still the strongest man in the home counties (sic) anchored countless scrums whilst Chris Brooker ravaged any attempt by the hosts build any foothold into the play.

Out wide Petersfield three quarters also played a clinical part in the afternoon's proceedings. A tested combination of Reece, Holden and Crook stole countless meters and wound back the years with exciting interplay. The first half ended 3 - 5 but the majority of the possession and play coming from the visitors.

The second period began much like the first. Petersfield received the kick off and played strongly into Guildford's half. Clever interplay between Osbourne and Howell-Richardson allowed quick ball to move out to the backs. The move took Petersfield just short of Guildford's try line where Chris Brooker buried over for the second try of the afternoon. The try was converted by Captain Holden who found his range and dissected the posts to extend the score line to 3 - 12.

The game turned into an attritional battle where neither team could pass their opponents defence. Field's line out proved a strong source of ball. McKay and Brookwell allowed clean ball for Holroyd to put Petersfield's superior back line onto the attack and the coup de grace.

Through sheer power, Petersfield’s front row had forced the Guildford pack into uncontested scrums. From a scrum on the Guildford 10 Petersfield won the put in. This was recycled quickly by McKay playing at 8. Swift hands through the backs onto Andy Crook on the wing who finished the move and ended Guildford’s hopes of the win. The last minutes of the game did see Guildford score an unconverted try showing the hosts commitment to the last. 8 – 19 final score, a very enjoyable afternoon and a fantastic win to start the season.

The Vets next step out in a home fixture on Friday 8th October under flood lights”. Don’t miss out.

Squad: Russell, Crook, Eldridge, Holden, Reece, Higson, Holdroyd, Cuthbertson, Brooker, Dan, Brookwell, Wood, Howell-Ricardson, McKay, Osborne, Ray, Pigott, Jerry.

Match Report by Laurence Wood