CHINEHAM 0, PETERSFIELD 63

PETERSFIELD ended 2016 on a high with a nine-try thumping of struggling Chineham. It was ’Field’s eighth win from ten league matches and puts them top of Hampshire 1, one point ahead of New Milton who have a game in hand.

At the start of the year, Petersfield were fighting a relegation battle. They survived and, so far this season, have never dropped lower than second in the league. It’s been a remarkable turnabout in fortune for the reds who now look serious promotion contenders.

’Field had to keep their focus at Chineham and, once again, the pack, led by the indomitable Dan Luff, provided a solid base for the team to build on. The destructive power of the scrum paid dividends, regardless of who had the put-in.

Neither team functioned particularly well in the lineouts – conditions were wet and greasy – but once ’Field had sussed out the home side’s calls, lock Franko Tomic dominated the aerial tussle.

The visitors had the four-try bonus point and, effectively, the win before half-time. Playing downhill, ’Field soon pulled away with tries from Sam Brown and Jay Bremner.

Stoppages began to disrupt the game, ultimately adding six minutes to the half, and Harry Attwood was an early injury casualty.

As half-time approached, Number 8 Harley Orr peeled from the back of a turned-over defensive five-metre scrum and barrelled his way over the line.

Then Eddie Matthews went on a blistering run down the right before feeding Tomic who drew the defence before switching with Bremner coming in on an outside-in line. The veteran’s pace carried him over the line for the fourth try and Josh Haslett nailed another conversion.

It took Petersfield a while to adapt to the incline in the second half. They continued to press deep into home territory, but the supporting players were often too far back to benefit.

The backs continued to show electric line-speed in defence. Toby Armstrong pounced on an error caused by the intense pressure and forwards and backs combined to release Bremner for Petersfield’s fifth try.

Minutes later, Armstrong slipped when he looked to be clear, but the red wave again broke over the Chineham defence and Fraser Patience finished the move. Haslett slotted a beauty from wide on the the left.

Tomic stole a lineout in the Chineham 22 and a few rapid phases later, young Ryan Morse bullied his way to the line for ’Field’s third try in eight minutes.

More injury stoppages followed before that man Tomic intercepted a pass on halfway and released Haslett to add a try to his impressive personal tally. The conversion gave him a perfect eight from eight in less than ideal conditions.

Chineham kept trying and celebrated every good tackle like they’d scored, but but couldn’t get close to the try-line. Their courage was admirable, but in trying to keep the ball alive, they gave away a string of penalties, finally leading to a second try for Orr.

With Haslett substituted, Fraser Patience landed Petersfield’s ninth successful kick.