Petersfield 62 - Ellingham and Ringwood 10

We travelled to runaway league leaders Petersfield on Saturday for our final Hampshire Counties Division 1 fixture of the season. Petersfield had already won promotion and held a past captain's pre-match lunch, which some of our elder statesmen attended and enjoyed.

We kicked off and put the home team under unexpected pressure in the first five minutes of the game, with hooker Adam Payne unfortunately spilling the ball from five metres out, with the try line beckoning. We were awarded a couple of penalties, but could not breach Petersfield's defensive line, despite mammoth efforts. Then in the seventh minute Petersfield broke away down the right had side of the pitch to score a well worked try, which their fly half and man of the match Nick Blumlein converted.

We responded well, but struggled to get out of our half or put Petersfield under any sustained pressure. Petersfield kept attacking and eventually our discipline let us down with the referee awarding a penalty which Blumlein duly kicked. Then in the twentieth minute Petersfield's lock forward Zak Jenkins smashed through our defence to score their second try, which Blumlein again converted. The waves of attacks from Petersfield, who had not lost a game all season came in quick succession and we had difficulty in repelling these. The home team scored another try which again Blumlein converted. Shortly afterwards, on half an hour, Petersfield scored their fourth try of the game to secure their try bonus point, but Blumlein was not able to convert on this occasion. We fought back putting the home team under pressure and in the 34 minute were awarded a penalty which our right wing Chris Frost kicked to get our scoreboard moving. Despite our efforts, Petersfield scored their fifth try before half time, which again was converted to make the half time score 33-3.

The second half brought testing conditions for both teams, with heavy rain and at times hail, but there was still some enjoyable rugby to watch with the home team displaying why they have been the best team in the league all season with some powerful running from their forwards and lovely off loads from their backs. This resulted in them scoring a further five tries in the second half, two of which Blumlein converted. But they didn't have it all their own way. We continued to press for a try and after sustained pressure from our forwards on the home team's five metre line, we were finally rewarded when their flanker Corben Hills squeezed over the line, ably supported by fellow flanker Andrew Lorton. Chris Frost was able to convert for the additional two points to make the final score 62-10.

Ironically as the game drew to an end the sunshine came out, perhaps fittingly to bathe Petersfield in a watery yellow glow justifying their clubs successful season with both their 1st and 2nd teams winning promotion and emulating what we achieved last season. Congratulations to them and for being excellent hosts. After a long season we enjoyed a coach trip back, with much merriment and singing.