Petersfield beat Weybridge Vandals 69-22 at Penns Place on Saturday in the first round of the Papa Johns Community Cup.

Weybridge took the game into Petersfield’s half from the kick-off. Field gifted their visitors a kickable penalty after just two minutes to open their account. Weybridge scored a converted try in the first 20 minutes, but Petersfield’s reply was to score three tries – two of which were converted – to end the first quarter 19-10 ahead. By half-time the visitors’ score had advanced by an unconverted try and Petersfield had added two converted tries and two unconverted tries to lead 43-15.

The Weybridge coach gave his team a full and frank analysis of their first-half efforts with clear instructions on how to counter Petersfield’s apparent superiority. This had the desired effect and the visitors opened the second-half scoring with a converted try. Weybridge had some dangerous backs and despite being pushed around in the scrum and lineout mauls their back row threatened to dent Petersfield’s defence. However, despite Petersfield using all their replacements this did not upset the cohesion of the team and with the fresh players their response to the wake-up call was to score a converted try and a second which was not improved with the score at the end of the third quarter 55-22. In the final quarter Petersfield tightened up their defence and played a little more circumspectly and scored two excellent converted tries to close the match out.

Matt McLean dots down (Photo: Andi L Jones Photography)
Matt McLean dots down (Photo: Andi L Jones Photography) (Andi L Jones Photography)

Petersfield will travel to Teddington in the second round on Saturday. Teddington won 45-5 at London Scottish Lions on Saturday and as winners of Surrey/Sussex Counties One will offer Petersfield strong opposition.

Petersfield’s second team lost 29-20 against Winchester’s second team in the Rugby Against Cancer Hampshire County Second XV Cup on Saturday. Winchester played their league rugby this season three leagues above Petersfield, but the apparent mismatch was nothing of the sort and Petersfield led 15-3 at half-time. Two converted tries put Winchester in front 17-15. Petersfield added another unconverted try, but Winchester scored two tries late on to close out the match.

By Chris Todd