Petersfield under-16s 41 Farnborough under-16s 5: PETERSFIELD under-16s secured top place in the division, beating a strong Farnborough team for the first time.

Field produced an impressive display of forward power, accurate running rugby, tactical shrewdness and physical intensity from the first whistle. The under-16s are unbeaten in the league this year and have worked their way into the top six teams in Hampshire.

Field started positively with Truman and Mumtaz running hard into a solid Farnborough defence and creating good early momentum. From a scrum, the midfield of Rushin and Mackintosh worked the ball out wide to Higson who won the footrace to score in the corner for a converted try.

From the restart Wilde, Dodds and Keohane all won loose ball at the breakdown, taking Field into the Farnborough 22. Grey picked up from the back of a scrum and offloaded to Casson who then weaved through the defence to score under the posts.

Field increased their pressure and good handling and direct running from Keast and Joseph opened a gap for Casson who ran a clever inside line to score Field’s third try.

Farnborough came back strongly, a string of penalties taking them into Field’s 22 before a series of phases broke the defence, resulting in a try.

From the restart Field increased the intensity with Caines carrying the ball well and Grey hitting some crunching tackles. A scrum against the head allowed Kay to kick cross-field to beat the defence and allow Higson to score.

Field faced the strengthening wind in the second half. From the kick-off the Farnborough full-back collected, broke through four tackles and headed towards the line for the try, only to be brought down short by Elston after a 50-metre pursuit.

Field worked the ball well through the backs with Higginbotham and Newton combining and Foster won a penalty at the breakdown. Wilde collected the ensuing line and, from the next phase, Dodds was in for the first score of the second half.

Farnborough used the wind to pin Field on their own line but the defence held out with Nicolson giving a masterclass in the chop tackle against the waves of attacks by the pack.

Joseph and Keohane made penetrating runs to take play back into the Farnborough half where another scrum against the head allowed Kay to dummy his way through the defence to score.

Field continued the intensity into the final minutes and another break by Casson, with good support from Fitzgerald, saw Field cut back across the defence on to the blind side, and with a quick flat pass to Higson out wide and Field had their seventh and final try.

Farnborough kept the pressure on until the final whistle, to complete an entertaining game played in a good spirit.