Basingstoke Vets (26) v Petersfield Vets (27)

Rarely seen outside a pub during the hours of darkness, Field’s oldies rallied to a 27-26 victory after a less than satisfactory start; Due to a loose grasp on time and distance players arrived at Basingstoke in dribs and drabs, safely ensuring there wasn’t time to warm up before the KO.

Using the floodlights to great effect, ‘Stoke repeatedly booted the ball high into the halogen haze, only for it to suddenly reappear, reducing the visitors to running about like demented chickens, head upwards and arms thrown out in forlorn attempts to catch the descending ball. Failure to control it as it suddenly reappeared and the resulting confusion saw the home side gain three early tries. Finally, though, Field gained good possession and some slick passing ended with prop Mark Butcher who pirouetted delicately through a tackle into space before sprinting 20m for the line and Field’s first score.

With the game now being played at ground level, Field were starting to make hay. In loose play Mark Rushworth repeatedly stole the ball in the tackle and created another try with a well timed off-load as three defenders dragged him down. Alongside him Steve Dryden delivered a series of crunching tackles and drove forward strongly with ball in hand, successfully guiding Field through the final quarter. Dan ‘the mechanic’ Marsh proved a real handful at the breakdowns and dominated the lineout, gathering all his own throw-ins and stealing three from ‘Stoke. Meanwhile “Iron lung” Barden, who marked his return after man flu with moans of “I can’t breathe, I only wanted to play a half”, finally got into the groove and saw off two props. Second row Bryan Piggot was solid in the scrum and supported at pace and the former centre demonstrated an insatiable appetite for work.
Guests second row Steve Bolt and flanker Trevor Nutt combined effectively to halt the home side attacks, with Nutt crowning his man-of-the-match display with a determined try.

At scrum half the volatile Gary ‘Woody’ Harfield - who admitted afterward that he found playing without a hangover an ‘unusual experience’ - danced, darted and remarkably kept his composure throughout. Derek Eldridge effectively choreographed a thrown together back line and led from the front, with one of a number of incisive breaks gaining him a deserved touch down. Matt ‘half break’ Higson turned in his performance of the season, controlled, direct and without comment. Aggressive running and combative driving in the ruck area by Julian Blanks was also a revelation – another performance of the season. Next to him the injured Harley Orr worked hard, showing commitment that would be the envy of players at higher levels. Fifteen minutes from full time his injury reduced him to walking pace and he left the paddock. Out wide Tony Rumming and Craig Inch covered, supported, took short passes and were such effective threats, the home defence was continually spread thin, allowing inside runners to break the gain line.

In the final minute the home side launched the last attack, a score would have won them the match. A neat pass put their full back clear but Higson sprinted 30 metres to bundle the threat into touch, game over. His determination summed up the evening, the result more impressive as in the first half the Basingstoke backline was padded out with second team players and field were defending up a gentle slope.

Basingstoke RFC Team Manager, Stewart Joyce, thanked Field for travelling so far on a Friday evening and said that the feedback from his team had been extremely positive with a very enjoyable evening being had by all.

Jon Walker echoed this sentiment and added his own thanks to all the Petersfield players who had turned up. He is looking forward to Dave Alexander, (PRFC fixture secretary), coming up with a few more ‘unusual’ matches.