PETERSFIELD’S seniors continued their preparations for the 2017-18 season with a friendly against Alresford on Saturday at Penns Place.

Having been at a low ebb a few years ago, Alresford have shrugged off the doldrums and won the Hampshire League 2 title last year, narrowly pipping close rivals Overton to top spot.

Pride and potential bragging rights to one side the fixture had little competitive importance.

However, it was key to getting the players back to match fitness and provided an opportunity for the coaching teams to assess how their charges delivered as a team against the match strategy and individually in terms of skills and understanding.

The final score of 12-7 to the hosts reflected the hit and miss nature of the match. For the first half, Field looked to have their noses in front only to be thwarted by Alresford’s solid defence or unforced errors. In the first half, as it did for most of last season, Field’s scrum dominated before changes in personnel enabled the visitors to gain an amount of parity in the second.

All of the Petersfield teams will meet their opposite numbers from Bognor RFC at Penns Place next week in the second friendly fixture.