'Field go top!
14 Nov 09 Petersfield 1st XV 27 v 5 Eastleigh
For those spectators who decided against the almost criminal cost of seeing dull England at Twickenham and came to Penns Place, their reward was a first class game of Rugby, played by two squads of good young men in a howling 60 mph gale. They were helped enormously by referee Chris Ings who made all suitable allowances for the appalling conditions and allowed for as free a game as possible.
Petersfield approached the weekend face with arguably the most important game of the season so far. The Ones have started to hit their straps and have been producing some excellent football in the last few weeks. The run-in to Christmas this year has produced a peculiar circumstance that could see the league won or lost for an East Hampshire club.
A glance at the table, fair reader, will show how evenly balanced the league is. Because the league is one team light, the Anstey brethren had a rest day Saturday, so a home win here today would propel ‘Field, at least temporality to the top of the table. Heady stuff, handkerchiefs ready for nosebleeds. An away win for the visitors would put Eastleigh level on points in second place, so the lucky people at Marcus Cover’s sponsored lunch were in for a cracking game.
Eastleigh came here with a strong reputation as a no-nonsense XV capable of beating anyone on their day. They were also unlucky to lose to Alton earlier in the season, neutrals have said, conceding a dubious penalty try in the final minute of the game. So they arrived at Petersfield with a good record of five and one and ‘Field would have to be at their best to stop them.
Petersfield had put out as strong a team as possible, save Matt Doe steps up to fill the No.9 shirt for the influential James Martin and the industrious Tom Luff in on the loose head, but apart from that, the squad was unchanged form the team put New Milton away last week. All reports came back with ‘plusses’, saving Coach Tony Barnes’ bugbear, the penalty count and one can be sure that was been addressed fully on the training ground this week.
And apply themselves, Petersfield did with relish. After, the Coaches agreed that this was one of the team's best performances since they have taken over. Having to play up the paddock and against the wind for the first half, ‘Field camped on the Eastleigh line and with real precision, stuck to a driving game plan that successfully pinned the Southampton team inside their own twenty-two.
They defied the conditions, played with more of a hard edge, yet with more discipline and control. When the ball was moved wide – and that was more often that one might imagine – the passing was safe and controlled, with always one of the industrious backrow of skipper Palmer, Crane and Cornishman Nicholl never more than two strides away in support. This was a good complete team performance, with the forwards raising their game to a new level, the lineout team of Ball, Hartwig and Payne controlling proceedings there.
The reward came on ten minutes after ‘Field had moved the ball left, then right and flanker Gareth Nicholl got his reward for fine support, racing between the despairing centres to score under the posts, Andy Barnes adding the extras.
From the restart, Petersfield returned immediately to ‘Leigh gaol line and again, precisely the same drill, but to opposite hand let prop Mikey William’s crash over for a handsome try on the left wing. The angle was too great for Barnes to convert, but the damage was done.
Eastleigh got over the shock and finally realising that the gale could be their friend, put a long racking kick into the home half. Petersfield got back to defend, but then conceded one of only a few indiscretions in the ruck, got pinged for going to ground. ‘Leigh kicked the to the corner, won the lineout and on the third attempt, got the rolling maul over the ‘Field line. The score was thus 12 – 5 at the half.
Petersfield turned round with the wind and slope for the second half and laid siege to the Eastleigh half. They took careful consideration of the conditions and a stout defence did nothing silly and took control for the next twenty-five minutes.
Eastleigh proved extremely resolute for the first ten and it took a moment of James Flett magic to unlock their defence. The pack drove the ball to the middle of the park, rucked it clear and a pick-up from Palmer and Doe broke the tackle line. Flett roared up inside them stepped delicately past the closing backrow and ran across the covering fullback to pop the ball down in the corner.
Petersfield came back again and agin and were repeatedly held, Eastleigh hoping this was damage limitation, but they reckoned without the wit of Andy Barnes. As the backs attacked once again, he took a superbly weighted ball from Ben Martin on the Leigh ten metre line and without breaking step, hit a hard flat forty metre dropkick which whistled through the sticks, referee Ings well placed to give the fabulous score. 20 – 5 down and there was now surely no way back for the brave Test Valley team?
But they did test ‘Field for ten minute period, forcing a tiring XV back their own twenty-two, where they stuffed the ball up their collective jumpers and pounded away for ten minutes, there only reward being, to his complete chagrin, a ten minute rest for ‘Field’s pocket dynamo winger George Saunders for coming into a ruck from the side. George of all people! But eh pack stuck to their task, won the ensuing series of rucks and mauls and finally another blinding kick from Barnes, sixty five metre kick from inside his own gaol-line took the pressure of Petersfield.
Coach Barnes made his replacements and it was one these that sealed the afternoon. ‘Field again forced ‘Leigh back onto their own twenty-two, drove downfield and Ben Winter, galloping through the middle with his trademark four stride, broke two tackles and scored under the posts, young Barnes again adding two vital points.
Petersfield were home and dry and though exhausted were justly proud of their achievement in beating the third based club. Their defence was excellent throughout, absorbing several periods of pressure from a good Eastleigh side. They had produced a brilliant first half, sustaining pressure and territory despite playing against the wind and won the game because of ability to take chances and convert pressure to points.
Tony Barnes and his fellow coaches took good measure from the afternoon. He said “The team couldn't play their normal expansive game in the conditions, so they simply adapted and got on with it
Most of all, we’re pleased with the team's attitude. The talk afterwards was of setting new standards, and of raising their own expectations of what they believe they can achieve going forward.”
Now, the next league weekend is 5th December, Petersfield playing host to feisty Millbrook and then next league game is then 19th December, when Alton come to Penns Place and even if our ‘rocketmeister’ were not here, there’ll be fireworks, trust one on that. Book your places now, for that should be, again on form, an absolute belter, in every sense of the word.
