Petersfield Vets (26) v Winchester Vets (49)

The Vet’s day began in inauspicious circumstances as players were plucked from their ranks to help support Field’s other senior sides. Fortunately, Winchester were also short of playing numbers and so the game kicked off with 12-aside. Whilst the reduced numbers may have given extra room in which the Silver Scrummagers could expand their game, the cold, wet and windy conditions provided an effective counter to the running game. One for the purists this was not, with knock-ons and wayward passes galore.

Winchester, with a couple of swift wingers on their strength, opted to play down the slope in the first half. To add to their pace advantage Winchester were able to secure turnover ball with ease as Field were having significant issues at the breakdown. Clinical in their exploitation of their strengths, Winchester breezed to a 35-0 lead at halftime.

To their credit, Field put the first half disappointment behind them and re-grouped for a spirited attempt at taking the game to Winchester for the remainder of the match. Unlike the first half, Field began to play and provided better support their runners at the breakdown. With better ball secured for the backs, Field’s soon gained their reward for their improved efforts; the ball was shipped out to Higson who jinked his way through the cover defence to score a converted try under the posts.

Unfortunately, though the weather conditions began to take their toll as both sides were reduced to 10-a-side due to injuries. Naturally, both teams started to play more of tens-style of rugby, with Higson, Mackay, Cuthbertson and Blanks making inroads into the Winchester defence. Both teams traded a converted try each; Field’s a fortunate one as fly half Fitzpatrick kicked a ball against his own inside centre which ricocheted into the hands of Higson who ran in for the score.

After Winchester scored their seventh converted try, Field stepped up the gear for the last 10 minutes. Clarke found touch just outside of the Winchester 22 and the Field forwards stole the ball from the resultant line out. The ball found its way to the safe hands of Blanks whose lightning pace enabled him to scythe his way through the cover defence to score an unconverted try. It was then preceded by the moment of the match when Ian 'Cuffy' Cuthbertson firstly completed the longest hand off in history for the first phase and then, after a few more phases, took the ball at speed to make a 25 metre dash to the line. Leaving a couple of the Winchester players in his wake, Cuffy dived over for the final score of the match.

As the final whistle went, everybody acknowledged that, in spite of the reduced teams and foul weather, the game had been played by all in a competitive but good spirited manner.

Team: Franciscs, Fitzpatrick, Cuthbertson, Marsh, Dryden, Mackay, Rushworth, Clarke, Blanks, Higson, Millar, Fitzpatrick

Report by: Julian Blanks