WEYBRIDGE VANDALS 16, PETERSFIELD 7

PETERSFIELD, after dispatching New Milton the previous week, were unable to hand out the same treatment to another team from the lower regions of the London 3 South-West table, Weybridge Vandals.

The Vandals deserved victory after dominating territory and possession, while Petersfield paid the price for the continuing injuries and unavailability that prevent coach James Alder fielding a settled side.

The statistics are telling: of the 15 league matches played to date, Alder has called up 35 senior players and only 11 of these have made over 10 appearances.

No surprise that ’Field’s patched-up squad contained yet another debutant, John Cain stepping in to make an impact by scoring his side’s only try.

Under grey, drizzling skies and with a cold wind cutting across the Brownacres ground, Petersfield again fell short in managing the game and the conditions.

Vandals outfought the visitors from the start. Relentless pressure never allowed the Reds to settle into their stride and although they defended grimly and mounted attacks when they could, the ball would not stick at key moments and chances went begging.

Weybridge took the lead with a penalty, but, with six minutes of the half remaining, Cain finished a good move with a powerful drive for the line. The try followed a decent passage of play by the Reds, with the forwards rumbling up the right for several phases before the ball was fed along the backs to the opposite wing. With the wind in his face, Nick Blumlein dropped the conversion over – just – and Petersfield led 7-3.

Had they held on until the break, the result might have been different, but Vandals knocked over another penalty and there was just a point between the sides going into the second half.

The pattern continued: Weybridge pressing hard and ’Field trying to play positive rugby from what little clean ball they had.

Weybridge scored an unconverted try following a series of penalties and, thereafter, the play became scrappier and scrappier, culminating in both sides losing a player to the sin-bin during the third quarter.

With minutes remaining, Vandals stuck the ball up their jumpers and drove a lineout maul over in the corner for the unconverted try that clinched victory and denied ’Field a losing bonus point.

Petersfield will need a strong side out for their home meeting with league leaders Old Cranleighans this Saturday.