Petersfield 12 Battersea Ironsides 15: PETERSFIELD’S first team suffered their first home loss of the league season against visitors Battersea Ironsides on Saturday.

Battersea arrived at Penns Place with a similar record to Field and their statistics showed their ability to put on performances that saw them lose by narrow margins to the stronger teams in the league. On Saturday, however, they reversed that trend with a try in the dying minutes of the match which propelled them into a narrow but unassailable lead.

Having missed a penalty kick, Battersea opened the scoring with an unconverted try from a driven lineout.

This was answered immediately from the kick-off. Battersea’s reticence in fielding the restart was punished by the rampaging Matt Momber who secured the ball and set up the first of several quick phases before Toby Sydenham finally burst through the defence for the finish.

Haslett added the extras which put Field in a narrow lead they extended after the break with another try, finished this time by Jack Glancy. This time Haslett failed to add the extras.

For most of the game Petersfield tried to play open, positive attacking rugby, but too often promising moves came to nothing due to inaccuracies in completion or poor decision making.

The well-drilled and experienced Battersea, meanwhile, showed how to play their style of rugby and benefitted from two further driven lineouts, the final one securing the game.

Head coach James Alder summed up the result as “a very bitter pill to take” but took heart from the positives in a game which once again showed that Petersfield had the wherewithal to match the more experienced teams in their new league.

Alder said: “With players moving in and out of availability for selection every week, due to injury and other absences, fielding a settled team is a challenge we’ve faced all season so far.

“To the players’ credit they again took to the task this weekend with enthusiasm and vigour and were within minutes of another deserved win.”

Field face a tough match on Saturday, when they will travel up the A3 to Old Emanuel.

The New Malden side are top of the league with seven wins from seven games, and a four-try bonus point has been taken in all bar one of these.