Sandown & Shanklin 15 Petersfield 12: PETERSFIELD’S title hopes took a slight dent on the Isle of Wight on Saturday as they lost to Sandown and Shanklin.

The hosts overwhelmed Field with quick recycling before exploiting a gap in the defence to score in the left-hand corner. Field pressed from the restart and Harley Orr replied with a peel from a penalty lineout.

With both conversions missed from the touchline, the scores were equal going into the second quarter.

The hosts regained the lead when Field fumbled the ball on their line while trying to relieve the pressure of a Sandown and Shanklin siege in the 22. The hosts pounced to score and the conversion took them further clear. The half ended with a player from each side sent to the bin, meaning both sides were down to 14 for the first ten minutes of the second half.

Just before the end of the third quarter Field’s backs mounted a running assault on the hosts’ defence. Josh Haslett stretched his legs to cut through the defence for the try before catching his breath to add the extras and bring Field level once more.

The game was hit once more by a double sending off, this time a yellow for the hosts and a red for Field as the offender from the first half received a second yellow.

The hosts then kicked what turned out to be the decisive penalty. Field finished strongly with multiple attacks in the hosts’ 22, but they spurned their penalty chances in the hunt for the try they needed to win.