Portsmouth Colts 13 Petersfield Colts 14: BOTH teams came out of the blocks with vigour and determination with no signs of having had a Christmas break.

Petersfield opened strongly and pressed hard at the formidable Portsmouth pack. Ten minutes of sustained pressure looked like it might yield some points but Portsmouth held strong and launched a breakaway counter attack, pushing Field back to their ten-metre line.

Portsmouth broke the deadlock deep into the first half, opting to take three points from a penalty.

Field, perhaps ruing the decisions to spurn three similar opportunities to take points, one from just under the posts, eventually managed to get some return for their efforts with Wands scoring his first try for the club to give the visitors a 5-3 lead at half time.

The war of attrition in pretty muddy conditions continued in the second half and Portsmouth were just able to get the ball over the whitewash to go 8-5 ahead.

Field responded and took advantage of two penalties to nudge ahead 11-8.

Portsmouth then looked like scoring a try but the hosts were denied by a tackle by Newton within a foot of the line.

Portsmouth kept the pressure going and eventually got the five points they deserved and scored a try following a yellow card for an incomplete tackle by a Field player.

Field kept at it and with the last play of the game Kay added to his penalty taking tally to enable Field to take the win at the death 14-13.