Petersfield beat Gillingham-based North Dorset 32-17 in their opening game in South Central Two – the highest level reached in Petersfield’s history.

North Dorset won promotion to the same league as Petersfield at the end of last season.

Petersfield selected a team with experienced players from last season and three new recruits.

From the off Petersfield dominated possession and field position, pinning the visitors behind their ten-metre line, though it took more than six minutes for Field to push North Dorset back inside their 22. Field took the lead through a penalty from fly half Nick Blumlein.

From the restart the visitors scored a converted try under the posts to go 7-3 ahead.

Petersfield went on the attack and set up a series of rucks which secured the ball ten metres from the posts. Hooker Nic Wilde went on the charge from deep and received a pop pass and scored a converted under the posts to put Petersfield 10-7 ahead.

Blumlein extended Petersfield’s lead with a penalty kick from 30 metres out to make it 13-7.

Liam Perkins scored Petersfield’s next try when he pounced on a loose ball, galloped 22 metres and shrugged off two tacklers to stretch over the try line close to the corner flag. Blumlein added the conversion from the touchline 25 metres out to make it 20-7.

The visitors then scored a penalty to make it 20-10 at half-time.

Petersfield scored the opening try of the second half when George Davis charged through on a looping run to touch down for an unconverted try to make it 25-10.

Miles Sampson then scored a converted try under the posts to make it 32-10. The visitors scored a converted try late on to make it 32-17.

Petersfield host Tottonians on Saturday (3pm).

By Chris Todd