Battersea Ironsides 29 Petersfield 7: PETERSFIELD’S latest league foray started badly as heavy traffic delayed the team’s arrival at Battersea Ironsides and prevented the side from doing all but the briefest of warm ups before kick-off.

With the rain coming down, the game became a battle to see who could make the best of the opportunities that came their way, and it was the hosts who produced clinical finishing in the awful conditions.

The tone of the game was set early on. Having dominated the first scrum in their own 22, Field secured possession only to cough it up through a series of errors. The Ironsides reacted quickly and punished their guests with a converted try. The pattern continued with the pack providing a solid platform for the team to press their hosts before conceding possession and points. Battersea scored two further tries to go in at the break with a 17-0 lead.

Field started the second half well and dominated possession. Field could not convert this into points as the home defence thwarted their efforts, and Battersea scored their fourth try.

Battersea scored their fifth try when they recycled the ball and scored under the posts. Field continued to compete, and Battersea conceded a number of penalties.

Continued infringements at a series of five-metre penalty-scrums led to a yellow card for the hosts and the awarding of a penalty try – the Battersea stand-off running to the scrum to kick the ball while it was in the scrum.