Petersfield lost 32-15 at home to Winchester in South Central Two last Saturday.

From a Winchester kick the hosts caught the ball and recycled it into the centre, where a penalty for offside against Winchester on seven minutes was calmly converted by Nick Blumlein for Petersfield to lead 3-0.

Twenty minutes later, with Winchester now on the front foot, an offside penalty against Petersfield was cleanly converted to bring the score to 3-3.

From a line-out that was not straight, and the following scrum, Winchester secured the ball, and through untidy defending by the hosts they scored an unconverted try to make it 8-3.

Starting hooker Sam Brown was replaced by Nic Wilde with nine minutes of the first half to play. A penalty line-out from five metres in the right corner saw Dan Sargent, acting as scavenger forward, lock on to the ball and crash over for a try converted by Nick Blumlein to put Petersfield back in front at 10-8.

Then Petersfield were offside inside their 22 and Winchester scored the penalty to lead 11-10 at half-time.

After the break Winchester profited from a Petersfield handling mistake and poached the ball. Their sprinting right winger had excellent support from the backs and an offload on the inside shoulder created a cleanly converted try in the corner and Winchester led 18-10.

Midway through the second half Petersfield scored a try through Ethan Horsfall on the left wing. After a penalty and some deft handling, Horsfall’s speed and footwork allowed him to cross the line to pull it back to 18-15.

Winchester then took control. With 13 minutes to play a converted try put them 25-15 ahead, and with just seconds on the clock they again breached the Petersfield defence for a further converted try to make the final score 32-15.