Petersfield 2nd XV 19 Fareham Heathens 2nd XV 10: PETERSFIELD’S second team nailed their colours firmly to the Hampshire South East League title with victory over their closest rivals, Fareham Heathens’ second team.

The tale of the Hampshire South East League has been one of two teams for the majority of the season, the second teams of Fareham Heathens and Petersfield, with Field generally topping the table. Going in to the match on Saturday, the penultimate for both teams, Field held a one-point advantage over their rivals; a win for either side would be decisive in settling the league.

Following their 38-12 drubbing of Field in the reverse fixture, the first league match of the season, the visitors came prepared to outmuscle the home side and the first half developed into a tense affair as both teams battled to secure possession and territory.

Somewhat against the run of play, the Heathens drew first blood late into the half, driving over a penalty lineout to score on the right wing. From the restart, Field worked back up the pitch to pressure the visitors’ try line. A flurry of penalties followed as the defence continually infringed to prevent what seemed to be inevitable. However, on their last penalty Field took the decision to tap and go rather than trust to their dominant scrum and coughed up possession to allow the Heathens to clear their lines.

With calm heads restored at half time, Field went immediately on the offensive from their kick-off, pressuring their guests into conceding yet another penalty. This time the home side hit touch, driving the resulting lineout over for their first score; Chris Brooker emerging from the heap with the all-important try. With the conversion missed, the teams were level with just three minutes of the half played.

Field’s next score came courtesy of a repeat performance some ten minutes later. When the defence pulled the maul down to prevent Field’s progress, the referee did not hesitate to award a penalty try. The conversion, by Groves, put Field into the lead for the first time.

The Heathens then camped in Field’s half and, as the defence failed to clear their lines, advanced to the home 22. Good work from the Heathens’ nine from the base of a scrum enabled him to fox the defence and score; the missed conversion keeping his team two points behind.

Field held their nerve and, halfway through the final quarter, made sure of the win with a display of running rugby allied with quick ball from the breakdown; Gareth MacGillivray finishing off the movement as he ghosted through the defence to score under the posts. Groves added the extras to allow Field to see out the match with an unassailable two-score advantage.

Both teams have a game in hand, so it is still mathematically possible for the Heathens to pip Field at the post.