PRFC win tough away fixture at Romsey
23 Jan 10 Romsey 5 v 19 Petersfield 1st XV
Petersfield set out to the Mountbatten Playing Fields to meet a tough Romsey outfit which was determined to avenge the result at Penns Place. Romsey has always had a tough forward set-up, New Forest hardwood, and their compact pitch set on the edge of the forest glowers at visiting teams.
So ‘Field had to go and, in the new jargon, ‘man-up’ to arguably what was to be a difficult forward encounter – and that they did. The set pieces were good and contained the home side and in one scrum, on their twenty-two, popped up the Romsey front-row. Penalty to Petersfield and Barnes obliged with the three points. Romsey has a good scrum though, and the fact that ‘Field weren't steamrollered shows a collective improvement, with the lineouts reasonably effective. There is a growing confidence, typified by young Jason Brooks, who strolled up to the first lineout, looked the big New Forester marking him in the eye. “Hello” he said, “I’m Jason,” shaking his hand, “and I’m going to take this ball off you!” …. which he promptly did.
Petersfield got themselves on the board first with a well-struck penalty from Barnes from forty metres, which initially subdued Romsey. The opposition relied heavily on a kicking game which was effectively handled by the ‘Field back three – Dunglinson in particular having an excellent game with well judged returning kicks and an eye for the counter-attack. Petersfield pressured the home team and camped in their half, but the final pass always seemed to go astray and further scoring was restricted to three more Barnes goals. Turing round 12 – 0 up at the half, Romsey changed their tactic and opted to run back any kicks which gave them a good winger’s try from Gump, but Petersfield’s defence shut that avenue down quickly and went back on the offensive, the away pack getting far more physical and dynamic than it has been in previous weeks, fronting up in the set piece and the loose to a strong Romsey eight. Petersfield's back row made excellent yardage with some smart interplay and powerful running with ball in hand.
Romsey’s main tactic against Petersfield was to slow the ball down. Coach Tony Barnes, watching from behind the goal posts said that at every breakdown, one couldn’t see the ball for yellow and blue shirts on the wrong side. Now if the referee let this go, then in the death it suited the visitors, for with ten minutes to go and the score at 12-5, ‘Field spilled behind the scrum. Ben Winter got himself a yellow card was for denying the try scoring opportunity by retreating to field the grubber kick, falling on the ball a yard from the line and not letting go!! Best yellow card this season by far! His reward was a simple yellow, not a penalty try, which would have made the game very interesting at that point.
’Field did well to keep their collective cool and to hold them out for only one try. Field made plenty of breaks in the backs, showing their potential when given front-foot ball and the reward was finally a try for the ubiquitous Barnes, barrelling through the home fullback, when Saunders was clear outside him, to score. His father was heard to remark that if he hadn’t scored, he’d be sleeping in the Forest that night.
Petersfield are looking good in attack but too often the last pass isn't given when it should be. Coach Barnes had clearly identified this, reckoning ‘Field denied themselves at least two further tries. They were particularly guilty of making a break and not using the support. Before the turn of the year, Petersfield might have cracked under the type of pressure Romsey put on them, but they have developed a quite tough and mean streak, not taking a backward step when confronted with physicality and being generally more aggressive around the park. They are going to need this if ‘Field are to have a good run in the Hampshire Bowl (the County Knockout tournament) where they will face teams from the London leagues, but the squad knows it still needs extra aggression at the breakdown.
So in the death, it was a good win against a tough and well-drilled opposition, one that they might have lost in previous seasons. Petersfield now face another difficult match next weekend in the Somme-like conditions at Cams Alder, where they must play Fareham Heathens, cock-a-hoop after beating Farnborough this weekend. No expansive running down at Fareham in the glutinous mud, but a stolid forward battle that will test the red-an’-whites thoroughly.
