Petersfield 15 Portsmouth 50: PETERSFIELD welcomed Portsmouth to Penns Place on Saturday with both teams playing for honour.

Petersfield’s relegation to the Hampshire Premiership was already confirmed and Portsmouth’s third place in London 3 South West has denied them promotion.

Portsmouth came out of the blocks quickly, forcing Field to defend in their 22 for the first five minutes. A 22 drop out was then charged down and the visitors scored their first converted try.

Portsmouth soon scored a second try, which was unconverted.

Field then forced a Portsmouth player to knock on, and quick ball from the scrum led to Carl Sharrock scoring Field’s first try. The conversion was missed.

Portsmouth responded well and scored their third try, which was unconverted, before Field closed out the first period with their second try, which was converted. The try came from a penalty lineout, and the ball was swiftly fed to centre Matt Momber, who powered through a gap to score from 15 metres. Field went in at the break 17-12 down.

Five minutes into the second half Field’s pack won two consecutive scum penalties, the second inside Portsmouth’s 22. The on-field decision was to kick the penalty and the deficit was reduced to just two points.

The visitors upped their game, and benefited from some weak tackling to run in 20 points in ten minutes to kill off the game. Portsmouth then scored 13 points in the last quarter to run out convincing winners.