PETERSFIELD 82, CHINEHAM 3

WITH a Hampshire 1 title decider against New Milton looming on April 8, Petersfield knew they had to be clinical against basement side Chineham at Penns Place on Saturday.

One lesson ’Field have learned this season is that, no matter the opposition, they need to be ruthless.

The final score confirms their overall domination, but does not tell the tale of a somewhat wasteful first half. The home side secured the four-try bonus point at the end of the session, but had missed out on another four scores through profligate handling and poor decision-making.

Petersfield took the lead after two minutes through the still potent Jay Bremner, the try set up by Tom Franks and converted by Josh Haslett.

Brought in at stand-off, veteran Bremner clicked with young half-back partner Michael Robbins and the two worked efficiently throughout.

Chineham slotted a penalty from just outside the 22 for their only points of the match. Then Franks powered over for the home side’s second try, Haslett missing the conversion in the gusting wind.

Solid defending and the odd error prevent further scores until Haslett kicked a simple penalty. And as half-time approached, Harley Orr touched down after a powerful drive and Haslett showed lightning pace to also score. One was converted and Petersfield took a 27-3 lead into the second half.

Several injuries severely reduced Chineham’s squad and ’Field ran amok on the restart.

They scored after just one minute after ignoring a penalty on offer. Full-back Jack Glancy ran a diagonal line to the left and Haslett, cutting back inside, was stopped short of the line, but offloaded to Gareth Crane who crashed through a tackle to score.

Chineham’s injury woes finally resulted in uncontested scrums – bad news for the dominant ’Field forwards. Undaunted, they set up a series of phases from the first uncontested scrum and lock Ryan Morse powered over. Halsett’s kick held up in the wind, but had just enough weight to carry through the posts.

Petersfield went in for the kill and scored three tries in quick succession. Wings Eddie Matthew and Haslett letting pure pace do the talking, while flanker Toby Sydenham bashed his way over from close in.

Now ’Field really were clinical and plundered four tries in the last quarter. Man-of-the-match Haslett scored twice to take his tally to four, and Robbins and hooker Jamie Williams both went over from close range.

Petersfield coach James Alder said: “We started slowly against a determined side, but the second half was a massive improvement. Our forwards are the best in the league and showed it again today under captain Dan Luff.

“It will be a massive challenge in the last game, but the players are hungry and have the desire to claim the double over New Milton.”

Petersfield and New Milton are level on points, but Milton have a game in hand and a superior points difference. If New Milton win their penultimate fixture at Ellingham & Ringwood this Saturday, Petersfield will have it all to do at Penns Place on April 8.