'Field exit the National Vase
21 Nov 09 Crawley 18 v 14 Petersfield 1st XV
Petersfield returned to some of their old ways after a super statrt to the season on Saturday and found an exit to the National Vase at Crawley. As last season, diminished availability and International weekends caused a complete buggeration at selection, but even so, with a notionally depleted XV, ‘Field cam within one score and five minutes of the knocking high flying and high spending Sussex out of the competition.
Late meeting and atrocious weather conditions meant ‘Field did not arrive at Willoughby Fields ‘til gone 1.oo p.m – not ideal preparation. With a much-changed team, only eight survivors from previous Saturday remained. Alex Dark playing no. 8 for first time and Sam Wilks bravely took up the scrum half position in absence of the regular three specialist ‘nines’ – and both did well in trying circumstances.
Petersfield struggled from the start, under pressure from a good home pack and were forced to concede first try from sustained pressure on their line. They then went further behind to a second try from an unfortunate bounce, so thus were 0-12 adrift at the break. The main positive from first half was the usual committed defence, but still, in the conditions, this was going to be a big hill to climb. What Field got with their oranges was an uncompromising half time talk from Derek White about the agreed strategy and, true to last season’s form did not the second period that well, conceding two kickable penalties to go 0-18 behind. And then, miracle of miracles, ‘Field started to play with some confidence. First tyro Alex Dark went over for a try, which Andy Barnes converted. Such was the depth of the recovery that Crawley started to infringe repeatedly and the upshot was they collect two yellow cards as they came under pressure. Then a good individual score from James Flett, converted by Barnes again and it was 14 – 18 with five minutes to go – but ‘Field had left it too late. Almost took it at the end, Will Dunglinson was first to a Barnes’ grubber kick into the corner, hacked it on only to be pulled back for a knock-on.
No-side was blown and despite a worthy recovery after poor start, but Petersfield had given themselves too much to do. They must now concentrate on the upcoming league fixtures, away at Southampton this weekend to begin with.
Coach Tony Barnes was practical after the game. “We’re disappointed after an outstanding performance against Eastleigh the previous week. But we have to take the positives.. a good defence and good fight back at the end”
Southampton beckons next weekend, then feisty Millbrook at home on 5th December, before the much-heralded East Hampshire Derby against Alton on 19th December – but one thing at a time.
