President’s XV 5 Exiles XV 29: ANOTHER cracking Boxing Day match at Petersfield Rugby Club saw the Exiles secure a hat-trick of wins in successive years.

Player numbers were slightly down on the previous year but still sufficient to form two teams and allow rolling substitutes.

The game was watched by a hundred or so family, friends and sport lovers at Penns Place who were treated to a hard fought and absorbing contest. However, whereas last year’s match was one of the closest finishes in recent history, this year the Exiles won by a comfortable margin.

Andrew White refereed the game with aplomb, politely handling the helpful advice he received from certain quarters and allowing the game to flow.

The President’s XV versus Exiles XV match is a Boxing Day tradition, a fixture intended to reunite the ‘Exiles’ – those who have moved away from the club, for work, education or other reasons – with their friends and former team mates.

The match continues to be high quality and the casual observer would have been hard pressed to recognise it as a friendly, such was the commitment on display from both teams. Indeed, Felix Tuff on the Exiles’ left wing drew gasps from the crowd when he decked his opposite number with a ferocious tackle at pace.

Eventually the ‘visitors’ opened their account with a break out down the right wing. Despite having a four on two advantage over the defence, they were made to work hard and the crowd were treated to an impressive handling display as they worked the ball between them. Now that they had found their way to the line the Exiles scored four minutes later to end the first half with a 12-0 lead.

The President’s men regathered themselves at half time, looking to claw back the deficit – a task that was not beyond them given the quality and passion of their play.

However, the Exiles scored within minutes of the restart to extend their lead to 17 points.

The ‘home’ side continued to press but were thwarted by some solid defence from the Exiles. Former 1st XV and now occasional Vets player, Ian Palmer rolled back the years with a masterclass in how to secure useable ball from the base of a retreating scrum. The Exiles put the game beyond doubt with another try, this time from full back Charlie Matthews – who was unfortunate to see his drop-kicked conversion come back off the upright.

While the Exiles’ defence held out for most of the match and managed to shackle the lightning quick Glancy and S Tuff, the pressure exerted by them in the fourth quarter finally bore fruit and the ‘home’ side crossed to break their duck.

The Andy Millar Memorial Trophy was presented to Exiles’ captain Andy Barnes.