United Services Portsmouth 24 Petersfield 10: PETERSFIELD produced a plucky display as they fell to defeat at second-placed United Services Portsmouth.

The hosts had the bulk of territory and possession in the first half. Field’s defence held out but conceded penalties along the way, incurring the wrath of the referee who gave a yellow to Seb Kay for one infringement too many.

Field held out for another five minutes, but the score eventually came and was doubled before Kay could return to the pitch. Both tries were unconverted.

The hosts scored their third try five minutes before the break. This time the conversion was simpler, and the hosts led 17-0 at half time.

Field took the game to their hosts from the re-start. A penalty line out on the United Services five-metre line was gathered cleanly by Field, who then set up a number of phases as they went in search of a try. Eventually, with the play in front of the posts, Field were able to hook Sam Brown up with the ball and he drove over the line. The conversion was a formality for Nick Blumlein, even in bad conditions.

Field were soon rewarded for their temerity as the pressure told and a United Services player was sin-binned. Minutes later, careless talk at a penalty decision cost the hosts a further ten metres, bringing the posts in range of Blumlein’s trusty boot, and he added the three points to make it 17-10.

The hosts secured a lineout in the Field 22 late on, from which they scored their bonus-point try and denied Field a losing bonus point.