Petersfield’s on-going development plan is to play a growing number of youngsters in the Twos and to blood them in the hard Hampshire Senior Merit Table, playing the reserve teams of clubs in higher leagues. There has been some muttering behind the showers about taking these nippers out of their comfort zone in junior rugby and having them play with the grown-ups, but skipper Derek Eldridge’s team proved the point of a ‘solera’ method, leavening a raft of good youngsters with a yeast of older hands like himself and the silver fox, Howard Williams.

Some of the Twos had their first run out of 2010, playing against a hard Andover team who have made a return to the leagues after a short breather of a year. A club from the higher London league, ‘Field understood that this could be a tough game and that Andover would come out at them from the start. No subtlety here, ball stuffed firmly up the shirt and down the middle as if they were facing the board of Associated British Foods. However Petersfield’s game plan was to absorb everything Andover could throw at them early on and to build their own pressure, which would lead to scoring opportunities arising. And bang on the script, Andover did come out all guns blazing, physical in defence, they pinned ’Field in their half, which resulted in an early penalty attempt, which was missed and served to shake Field up from their laid back start.

After this Field began to build pressure – up front the forwards provided the platform from which James Martin, returning from injury and Rhys Purchase could orchestrate a fifteen-man game that Andover, despite a valiant effort could not live with. Following the early Andover resistance, Field started to find holes in the defence with ease, which led to eleven tries being scored, notably four from young Harry Green, who impresses more with each game. Purchase had a great game with the boot, adding eight conversions and one penalty and Eldridge himself got on the score-sheet with two good tries, one belying his years as he ran in from fifty metres. 

As well as the commendation that must go to all the home players on Saturday, a noteworthy mention must go to rugby league convert Chris Smith. Playing only his second union game, he proved a thorn in Andover's side by running strongly and when he came off his wing through the centres in the midst of three tacklers, managed to get the offload to the supporting player, who scored under the posts. All in all a fine example of what it is hoped to achieve as the overall plan gains momentum. Next week, will be a real test as the Twos face Trojans at home, kick-off 2.15 p.m.