Farnborough 31 Petersfield 12: PETERSFIELD’S first team went into Saturday’s match at Farnborough hoping to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

However, despite a spirited performance they were to suffer yet another away defeat.

As the first half unfolded it looked like it would be a familiar tale of Field’s inability to complete attacks. Like a darts player with the ‘yips’, Field’s punishing season has robbed them of the confidence to press home their advantage.

Farnborough opened the scoring after four minutes, driving a penalty lineout maul over from the 22. Field fought back and set up camp in Farnborough’s half of the pitch but, in spite of Field having the lion’s share of possession and territory for the next 20 minutes, it was Farnborough who scored again; the home side taking advantage of Field’s inability to clear their lines.

Field dusted themselves off and returned to the fray, only to continue to fluff their lines when they had the advantage.

With ten minutes to go in the half, Field at last turned pressure into points. A misthrow at a Farnborough lineout put the home side under pressure. Field captain, Gareth Crane, ripped the ball from the hapless recipient and set up a ruck. Quick ball to backs allowed Samuel Rushmer to barrel through, reaching over the line between the posts.

The first half ended with Field coughing up possession to allow Farnborough to apply pressure and force a kickable penalty. Fortunately for the visitors the penalty was missed and the sides went into the break at 12-7.

The opening stages of the second half were disrupted by injuries to the home side and errors by both teams and it was some time before a meaningful attack could be launched. It was Rushmer who provided the spark for Field as he made two tackles in quick succession to panic the home defence. He then gathered the woeful clearance kick before feeding Harvey Belcher who needed no second invitation to sprint for the line out wide on the right.

In two short minutes, Rushmer went from hero to villain; adjudged to have put in a dangerous tackle on a Farnborough attacker he was sent for ten minutes in the sin-bin. Initially Field’s 14 held out and even threatened their hosts but the numbers soon stacked up. With a second yellow, this time to Craig Chance, the wheels came off Field’s battle bus and with ten minutes of the match remaining Farnborough cut loose and hammered home their advantage.

Mathematically, Field have a chance to rise from their lowly berth in the league, they will however need to score bonus point wins in their few remaining fixtures while the teams above them lose. The team’s next fixture is at home to bottom of the table Locks Heath Pumas on Saturday, April 2.