PETERSFIELD XV 15 pts vs. PORTSMOUTH DEVELOPMENT XV 15 pts

Unusually for the home team, the management could put out a 21-man squad that boasted age, experience and little dash of youth on the wings. So abundant was the experience that they could even loan Portsmouth the services of Bryan Pigott in the front row to cover for a last minute withdrawal and great credit must go to Bryan for playing against the vastly more experienced Barden, who himself went onto don the Portsmouth colours, when they sadly lost their only other prop early in the second half.

So to the game itself, of which it has to be said, was a very enjoyable spectacle with both sides trying hard to play good rugby. Playing with the slight slope in the first half it was the home side who took the advantage and drew first blood with an unconverted try from Alex Groves out wide. This came about after some strong close quarters work by the forwards allowing scrum half Clarke to whip the ball down the line and stretch the Portsmouth defence.

Quick to respond the visitors applied their own pressure and some sterling pick and drives brought them deep into the Petersfield half, where the continuing pressure brought the inevitable penalty. Spurning the chance of three points Portsmouth took a quick tap and drove for the line, stalwart defence by the boys in red kept them at bay for a series of phases until eventually the ball was worked out wide to crash over for the equalising try.

Petersfield’s second try was the pick of the day. The dominant home side scrum pushed the visitors back most of the day and from one such drive the backs capitalised on quick ball spreading it wide, neatly and efficiently to the mercurial Jack Glancy on the wing. With a strength and determination to match his old man Bill, Jack’s pace took him a full twenty five yards down the touch line, where he rode a strong cover tackle from the Portsmouth fullback to power over in the corner. The ebb and flow of the game continued and before the half time whistle went Portsmouth had equalised, crashing over once again after capitalising on poor handling and some sloppy penalties given away by Petersfield.

The visitors started the second half much the brighter, but couldn't capitalise on the amount of possession they had and even coughed up a simple penalty in front of the posts; how the kicker will rue that miss. After losing their remaining prop to injury and accepting local hero Barden into their fold the visitors continued to batter away at the home side and it was another one of Petersfield’s own who instigated Portsmouth's next score. Bryan "Benedict Arnold" Pigott, cleverly called for the ball to be thrown to him at the front of the line which he immediately returned to the powerful Portsmouth hooker, who ran uncontested down the tram line and over for the visitors third try. The attempted conversion was missed and with only four minutes remaining on the clock, it looked like Field had it all to do to salvage the game.

An excellent restart saw the home side recover the ball and then set up a series of drives, mauls, rucks and scrums that resulted in an infringement by the visitors and the first yellow card of the day. With their last play Petersfield took a tap penalty and with everyone expecting Cuthbertson to power forward, it was the more elusive and strong running Holden who took the ball and ferreted under the Portsmouth defence to tie the game. Groves stepped up for what should have been the winning conversion - however history will record that he broke under pressure and the teams remained tied on 15-15 as referee Edwards blew for no side. A lucky escape for Petersfield or a missed opportunity for Portsmouth? Actually it was neither, this was a tremendously enjoyable game with some very good rugby played at times by both teams and the result was a fair reflection on the game as a whole.

Next week Petersfield repay the compliment to Portsmouth by travelling to Norway Road to play what should be a Vets fixture.