PETERSFIELD travelled the comparatively short distance to Stoneham Lane on Saturday, with the hope of beating their Hampshire rivals with a much-changed team.

Most of the younger players have returned to university, exposing the squad even more to the effects of an horrific injury list, but there remained a confidence in the team that if they stuck to the game plan they could do well.

From the previous week Alex Vaughan came in at fly half and gave a good account of himself, Charlie Hoff and Derek Eldridge returning as the 'auld firm' in the centre, James Flett moving to full back.

Having to play into the wind and rain in the first period, Petersfield made a good fist of this and did well, conceded only two tries, trailing 12-0 at the break, but had lost prop Mike Williams with a shoulder injury.

The meagre but hardy Field support would have been forgiven for thinking that their team would turn around with the winds at their backs and play a more intelligent game. Unfortunately that wasn't the case, with some aimless and mis-directed kicks and some generally poor ball handling and retention skills on show.

Despite changes the team were still making the same mistakes as the week before, with not enough aggression at the break down and a serious lack of 'street smarts'. Their hosts continually outplayed Field and out-thought them at the break down.

Petersfield are still not getting support there in numbers or with any interest and they are still desperately looking for inspiration in the pack. Forwards are not able to get the ball back when taken into contact situations, and to compound this the backs didn't seem to know how to recycle the ball when the forwards aren't available. Any seasoned observer of the great game, from Guinness Premiership to Hampshire 3, will know that backs have to act as back rows on occasion at the break down and this did not seem to be happening on Saturday.

Field still have a propensity to pick and drive from the base of scrums and not make any ground. Their scrummage was really only satisfactory and not spectacular and as the wounded list grew, the scrums started to go backwards. Lineouts, which had been good, were not successful, for although weather was a factor, wrong tactical decisions were being made as to where to throw the ball.

Coach Tony Barnes was not a contented man afterwards, but was measured in his comments. "Against the wind and rain for the first half, I thought we'd done well. We'd conceded only two tries, but with the elements in the second half we should have been in with a decent chance. But we let the Trojans pack then get on top, dominating possession and territory as we were pushed back; our set pieces were under serious pressure and overall we were beaten at the break downs."

The 1st XV take on Kingston at Penns Place on Saturday (3pm). A big crowd always lifts the club and there is the hope of a good turnout at Penns Place.

ANDY MILLAR