Petersfield run in nine tries against U-15s

Guernsey 7, Petersfield 53

GUERNSEY'S lack of match practice was clearly evident as they were convincingly beaten on Saturday at Foote's Lane by the tournament favourites in the second round of the Hampshire County Cup. Tim Davison's side showed a great deal of determination and commitment as well as a fair amount of ability throughout the 60 minutes, but they were always going to come out second best against a very well-drilled and organised Petersfield outfit.

The visitors racked up a total of nine tries with a hat-trick apiece for centre Harry Drummond and wing Phil Newans and although frustrations began to show from the Sarnians in the second half, their heads did not drop and the coach was understandably pleased with their overall efforts.

'The guys tried very hard today and they were up against the best side in Hampshire in our age group,' said Davison.

'Their heads did not go down at all and we were pushing them back in the scrum in the last 10 minutes which is a positive sign.'

In fact, Guernsey's scrummaging was excellent throughout and it was from such a set piece that they created their one try.

Having fallen 12-0 down to tries from Drummond and Phil Pearse and a Andy Barnes conversion within the opening 12 minutes, the signs for the home side were hardly encouraging early on but some good pressure on the opposition forced a knock-on inside Petersfield's 22 halfway through the period.

The resulting scrum was well won and the ball went on the blindside for Emile Thompson to claim the score. Captain Andrew Rigden then slotted home the extra two points to make it 7-12.

The try was the least the Sarnians deserved for their afternoon's work but it also served to inspire Petersfield to greater things.

Drummond added his second try after the green-and-whites had turned the ball over in their own 22 and the reds worked it wide left for the centre to coast over the line - Barnes converted - and then Joe Cooper went over in the corner after a period of sustained pressure on the Guernsey line.

That made the half-time score 24-7.

The advantage was increased just moments into the second half as Drummond completed his hat-trick after a well-worked missed pass in the three-quarter line and a couple of minutes later, Newans scored his first after a fine, flowing move through the backs from the base of a scrum.

With just under 20 minutes remaining, Pearse made it 41-7 as Petersfield won a scrum against the head five metres out from the Sarnians' posts.

Newans then had time to complete his hat-trick with one excellent solo effort and by finishing off probably the best move of the match which involved great handling from both forwards and backs.

'Petersfield are an excellent team whereas we are a strong-to-middling team in this age group in Hampshire. We try to compete, but they have a lot of hours being put into their time on the pitch while we train for an hour on a Sunday.

'They were a better side than us, they used the blindside well and if we did not make the first-up challenge, then they were through and at us.

'In the last two, three or four scrums, we came back into it again which was pleasing and if we are not going to get regular games, we need to be good at set pieces,' said Davison.

The coach added that he hoped his side would be allowed to play in the Plate competition which is meant for first-round cup losers. Guernsey won their first round by Winchester giving them a walkover but Davison wants the chance to play more fixtures against Hampshire opposition.