Petersfield 12 Royal Navy 51: PETERSFIELD’S senior players combined last Tuesday night (December 12) to take on the might of the Royal Navy in the third floodlit charity match between the two sides.

With players combining from the three regular senior squads, plus a sprinkling of veterans, and with important league matches on the weekend, this match was never going to be easy for Field and so it proved as they were soundly beaten 51-12 by a Navy development squad.

The Royal Navy were imperious in the first half, running in a half-dozen or so tries courtesy of their powerful and pacey back line.

The visitors didn’t have the half completely to themselves as third team player Lee Jones crossed for an unconverted Petersfield try.

Field tightened up their play in the second half and had several periods of pressure in the Navy’s half and 22.

Field’s pressure was rewarded when they scored a try in the final moments of the match. Ryan Morse produced a trademark bullocking drive from a couple of metres out and Josh Haslett added the conversion from wide on the left.

While the score was racking up on the pitch, the money was piling up in the clubhouse. The crowd, some of whom had attended the pre-match charity supper, were generous in their donations to charity as they were to the players putting on a display for their enjoyment.

At the end of the evening the event had raised £2,400, which was split evenly between the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and The Rosemary Foundation.