Petersfield 15 Isle of Wight 12: PETERSFIELD’S first team secured their second victory of 2016 on Saturday to take their 2015-16 season record to three wins, one draw and a number of losses.

Meeting Isle of Wight RFC at Penns Place, Field managed to take revenge for the nearly 50-point drubbing they had received during their trip to the Island in November.

Field started well, with the pack showing the dominance in the scrum that they have displayed in most matches this the season. Field’s tries showed their desire to play running rugby as all three tries were scored by backs; one to Eddie Matthews, playing out of position at scrum-half, and two to left winger Frazer Patience.

In spite of their good start – Matthews scoring from a quickly taken penalty after ten minutes – it wasn’t long before the old millstone of inaccurate execution began to drag the home side down. By the end of the first quarter Isle of Wight were camped in Field’s half and seven points ahead thanks to two tries, one converted. The second quarter followed in similar vein with Field struggling to maintain possession.

After the break, Field again set off with a will and forced the visitors back to their line. However, the hosts could not muster the accuracy they needed to turn the pressure into points. Halfway through the third quarter, the Isle of Wight tight-head was sin-binned; seemingly paying the price for his team’s constant infringements to prevent Field’s drives. The home side took immediate advantage, passing the ball through the back line to Patience on the overlap. The missed conversion left Field two points short and though they battled hard the chance to overtake the Island did not come until midway through the final quarter when Patience once again outpaced the defence on the left to score.

Field, unused to managing the clock to protect a lead, almost coughed up the win by gifting possession to their opponents. However, Isle of Wight’s desire to score a winning try, rather than draw with a penalty, proved their downfall as Field’s defence forced a penalty of their own from the attackers to enable the ball to be booted to touch for a valuable win.

While Field remain above last-placed Locks Heath Pumas, the win puts them within two points of the team above them, Ellingham and Ringwood. A good result away against Farnborough in a fortnight’s time could see Field rise from the position that they have inhabited for most of the season.