Sandown & Shanklin 2nd XV 17 Petersfield 2nd XV 22: FIELD faced a stiff challenge for their first match of 2016; a trip to Sandown and Shanklin.

Visits to the South Island have often proved to be a banana skin for Field teams and the seconds were unsurprised by the tough battle that ensued from the kick-off.

Field’s pack was faced by a huge obstacle in the massive shape of the players the home team had up front. Even though the Field forwards are very well drilled their opposite numbers had a big weight advantage and were hard to push around.

Throughout the game Field struggled to execute the basics but inexplicably countered this by making the hard stuff look easy. At half time there was little to separate the two teams, with Field leading 12-10.

A try each in the second half, Sandown’s converted, had the teams drawing with six minutes left on the clock and Field with a five-metre scrum. The pack drove the scrum over the line for Chris Brooker to pop it down for his hat-trick and Field’s fourth try. Carl Sharrock secured the other try, with Alex Groves adding a conversion.

Next week the second team host Trojans’ third team at Penns Place, and they will look to repeat their handsome 26-point victory in November.