'Field dog it out!
17 Oct 09 Petersfield 1st XV 17 v 10 Romsey
Petersfield dogged out a top-of-the-table dual with fourth place Romsey on Saturday to go into second place in Hampshire One. They had to fight all the way, playing for a quarter of the match with fourteen men after incurring the wrath of Kiwi referee Harvey, whose finicky style was a source of difficulty to both XVs.
Coach Barnes was pleased in the end, but was wroth during at the game at the seeming imbalance in the penalty count. “We seemed to get into good attacking positions,” he said “ and then get pinged for some silly indiscretion.”
One cannot blame the match official for the limited score. The current turn of phrase is a take on the French way, “you play what’s if in front of you” and if one’s opposition is getting the best of an Antipodean interpretation of the off-side law, then apply that to one’s own game.
To Petersfield credit the depth of squad is improving, although numbers training may not be, and Romsey scored all their points when the red-and-whites were reduced. Barnes was delighted with defence, “It is not difficult to see why we've only conceded one try in the last three matches,” he said in his usual measured way. And indeed, if the pack were a little brittle at times, Romsey were contained comfortably.
Skipper Ian Palmer had a fantastic game, continually taking the ball from a retreating scrum and making ground. He has plainly listened to his mentor, who, in his time was the best No.8 in the world. This allowed Butcher at scrummie to get his back line running. And run they did – they moved the ball wide at every opportunity, the ball handling smooth and confident and with the home back five rampaging in open play continually had the visitors on the back foot.
Petersfield attacked from the first and then fell back, absorbing some good, attacking rugby from Romsey well. Fifteen minutes in and after Romsey tired, ‘Field sped up the park. Held briefly in the half they switched the drive from right to let and Will Dunglinson got the ball on the twenty-two with three men to beat. Which he did with some ease and dubbed the ball down in the corner.
Petersfield tails were up. They piled on the pressure and contained Romsey in their own half. The ball was well held by the visitors in midfield, Petersfield won the ruck and Todd arrived at speed through the centre taking a neat pass from ‘greybeard’ Williams on the switch. Ploughing into the tackle line to produce a car-crash, Dark snapped up the loose ball and was through almost to the posts, where he fed the excellent Tom Plaisted for the hooker to score under the posts. Barnes added the conversion and to Les Balconniers, the good time were rolling.
Not for long. One must never under-estimate Romsey and they stormed back at Petersfield and fought their way up to the home line. There was a ferocious series of melees on the ‘Field line, the ball skitted out to Stent at flyhalf. Before he could move young Andy Barnes hit him with a square and totally correct textbook tackle driving both players to ground. Referee Harvey looked startled and without any thought, pinged young Barnsie and gave him a yellow card for an alleged spear tackle. Now you might think, gentle reader, New Zealanders would know all about spearing, but no-one, including Romsey, thought this was one.
So Petersfield were down to fourteen men and one gives a good team like Romsey a second chance. They carried on the attack, eschewing the kick and their competent No.8, Sergison barrelled over for their opening score. Stent added the conversion and the visitors were back in the game.
Into the second half and with Barnes Junior returning, it was normal service resumed. Palmer led his men back onto the Romsey half, now playing up the slight slope and camped on their line. Romsey dug deep and stopped everything ‘Field could through at them – it was becoming a game for the Rugby purist – the sort of game one sees deep in the Rousillion – two towns playing for their own church bells.
Three successive drives and it was the slight figure of scrum-half Wayne Butcher who squirmed through the tough men of the New Forest to ground the ball and set ‘Field back on track. And back came Romsey. Battle was drawn to the middle of the paddock, with Romsey perhaps having ascendancy in the tight scrummage and Petersfield definitely the superior in the loose. A ball hacked through was well fielded by Lewis at fullback, who hoisted a return. Romsey’s own fullback, Bertram fumbled again and in trying to clear got the chasing Lewis who launched himself at the ball and clattered into him. The honest surprise of both players, Harvey was there to ping Lewis for a late charge and yellowed card him! Romsey took the chance drove the ball in-field again and when stopped cunningly, if illegally, twenty metres out took the kick to reduce the score to 17 – 10.
And that was it, both teams then fought out a tough dual in the middle of the park, the highlight being a well-struck kick at goal by Barnes, which both touch judges gave, but on which Mr. Harvey demurred. Minutes later, Butcher hacked the ball into touch and ‘Field were home. If not at a gallop, at least at a steady canter.
Up into second place and mission accomplished, Petersfield are showing the measure of the squad is improving when, with numerous absentees, they were able to beat such a good team. Coach Barnes took the positives. “Some areas went well, others we can improve on,” he said. “We were pleased with our attacking play at times, especially work rate and support play. There’s still a lot of work to do, but as always, we believe the talent is there throughout the squad to enable us to build a fine team.”
Petersfield play Fareham Heathen at home next weekend, who will be on an up, having beaten Farnborough 32 – 25 at the weekend. The club is also presenting the cheque for moneys raised on their’ Gun Run’ to Help for Heroes. It will be an important day for the club and it is to be hoped a big crowd will help the Ones onto another good result.
