Petersfield 34 Weybridge Vandals 17: PETERSFIELD welcomed Weybridge Vandals to Penns Place on Saturday.

The visitors scored the first try when they moved the ball through the hands before finally exploiting a gap in the Field defensive wall to score near the posts. The conversion was a formality.

Field responded when Harley Orr fed Josh Haslett who had the simple job of crossing for the score. Nick Blumlein slotted the extras.

The visitors took the lead again when their fullback gathered up a spilled ball and hared off for the line. The conversion went wide.

Field came back when Haslett came in off his wing to take an attack forward before a layoff to Eddie Matthews for a simple score in the corner. Blumlein again took the extras, giving Field a narrow two-point lead going into the break.

In the second half Sydenham finished off a series of quick recycles with a strong drive from five metres out, stretching full length to beat the attention of two defenders to ground the ball just over the line. Blumlein added the conversion before kicking two penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Field secured the bonus point fourth try when Blumlein changed the attack from left to right and the ball was swung out to fullback Jay Bremner, who calmly chipped the defence before regathering the ball and diving over the line. Blumlein added the conversion.

The visitors responded and ran around a flat-footed defence for an easy score.

After the win, Petersfield head coach James Alder was quick to point out that Weybridge had demonstrated admirably to his players that there will be no easy games this season.

Alder said: “Every team will fight for points during the full 80 minutes, and we need to quickly adapt to managing games.”

Alder also felt his side were below par in the first half, although he was pleased with the second half performance.

Alder added: “I have full trust and belief in the squad to be successful this season, however, we cannot accept performances like our first half if we hope to win games.

“Given the change of performance in the second half, I feel that the try-bonus win was well deserved.”

Petersfield have this Saturday off to recharge their batteries before travelling to Old Cranleighans, during what is rapidly becoming a season of tough matches.