Petersfield 15 Old Tiffinians 16: PETERSFIELD slipped to an agonisingly close defeat against Old Tiffinians at Penns Place on Saturday.
The visitors scored the first try of the match just before the end of the first quarter when they made a rare break into Petesfield’s half which ended with an unconverted try.
Field got back on level terms when Sam Brown powered through four defenders to score Field’s first try. Nick Blumlein missed the conversion.
Indiscipline following the re-start gifted Old Tiffinians a penalty, which they converted to regain the lead.
Field scored their second try when Dan Dryden crashed over the line. The conversion was missed, but Field led 10-8 at half time.
Field conceded a penalty early in the second half, and Old Tiffinians took the three points on offer to earn the narrowest of leads.
The visitors scored their second try at the end of the third quarter when a double tackle in midfield resulted in the Field defenders bouncing off each other and opening the door for a sprint to the line. The scrambling Petersfield defence failed to stop the try near the corner, but the difficult conversion was missed.
The referee reached for his yellow card in the opening minutes of the final quarter and sent an Old Tiffinians player to the sin bin. Field took advantage when Tom Land was put clear on the right wing for Field’s third try. Blumlein’s conversion attempt fell short though, leaving the hosts a single point in arrears.