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Sat 25 Jan 2020 · Hampshire Premier
Alton Silverbacks (Men)Petersfield
5
25
Field defence dominates Silverbacks in local derby
Steve Jenkins26 Jan 2020 - 12:10
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Petersfield gain revenge!
Petersfield made the short trip to Alton Silverbacks and secured a well-deserved victory against title rivals Alton in front of a large crowd at Anstey Park.
With Alton starting the game just 3 points behind Field but with a game in hand, this game was likely to be decisive for both sides, and was unusually given extra significance at this level by the addition of a full 3-man mic’d-up refereeing team.
Field perhaps surprisingly decided to kick up the slope in the first half, taking the game to Alton from the first whistle. They immediately gained a penalty advantage after the first of many offsides for both sides that was duly converted after just 2 minutes. Both teams would need to adjust to the extra officiating of the offside line.
A couple of Field indiscretions saw Alton mounting their first attacks and Cameron Hamer kicked to the corner where Field carried the ball over their own line. From the resulting scrum, Brendan Sumner was stopped just 5 metres out but Alton failed to capitalise after a loose pass and Field hacked upfield.
Field had a slight edge in the scrum, and the line outs were very competitive but Field had a real dominance in the rolling maul and after 13 minutes they kicked well to the corner.
Alton appeared to have an opportunity to relieve the pressure but the resulting kick was well charged down. Both teams seemed to stop as the ball appeared to be destined for touch, but the spinning ball stayed infield and the Field scrum half was the only player switched on to the resulting events. He fly-hacked the ball forward over the line and Alton dragged him back as he closed in to touch the ball down. Whether he reached the ball before it touched the end goal line is debatable, but the referee was in no doubt and awarded Field a penalty try. No conversion necessary as Field extended their lead to 0-10
This moment and the next 15 minutes were to prove pivotal in the game as Alton mounted a series of assaults on the Field line. They had several 5-metre scrums and lineouts but Field’s defence was immense as they stopped every attack through power in the forwards but also high pressure on the backs line. Alton did not have that cutting edge or pace to find a gap, and every error or misjudged pass was greeted with delight by the increasingly confident Field team and supporters.
Field took advantage, by closing the half in Alton territory and scoring again in the corner after two impressive drives from their forward pack after 35 minutes. The scoreline looked a little unfair on Alton, but Field’s defensive display was proving decisive, and they had taken their chances well. 0-15 at half-time
With Field kicking down the slope now, it was going to be a difficult second half for the Silverbacks and Field started the game with their tails up. Another Field maul was adjudged to be pulled down and Field extended their lead after a well-taken drop goal in midfield
Choosing to kick rather than run up the Anstey slope, Hamer took the game back to the Field 5 metre line with a well taken kick to the corner, and Tom Smethurst reduced the deficit from the resulting line out.5-18 after 48 minutes
However if a remarkable comeback was even a flickering thought in the Alton team, that light was duly extinguished just 4 minutes later as again Alton had no match for the Field rolling maul and Nick Stoffell was awarded a yellow card for collapsing. Field used the extra advantage well and had 3 players out wide as they crossed the line again for their third try in the corner. 5-25 after a superb conversion.
Hamer nearly broke through midfield, Sumner was pulled down by a last gasp defensive effort as Alton grew increasingly desperate as the clocked ticked down. Stoffell joined the fray again, but Alton failed to capitalise on a couple of chances and perhaps with calmer heads would have taken different options on occasion.
Field were given a yellow card for failing to retreat with Ed Thomas trying to take a quick penalty after 68 minutes, but the Field defensive line was not to be breached again as they halted every Alton attack despite their lack of numbers.
Alton never took a step back but the first half penalty try always had them chasing the game and they lacked the power and the pace of their performance when they beat Field at Penn’s Place earlier in the season. They stopped Field from securing a bonus point try but Field have now extended their lead to 7 points, with Alton still having the game in hand on their rivals.
With Alton starting the game just 3 points behind Field but with a game in hand, this game was likely to be decisive for both sides, and was unusually given extra significance at this level by the addition of a full 3-man mic’d-up refereeing team.
Field perhaps surprisingly decided to kick up the slope in the first half, taking the game to Alton from the first whistle. They immediately gained a penalty advantage after the first of many offsides for both sides that was duly converted after just 2 minutes. Both teams would need to adjust to the extra officiating of the offside line.
A couple of Field indiscretions saw Alton mounting their first attacks and Cameron Hamer kicked to the corner where Field carried the ball over their own line. From the resulting scrum, Brendan Sumner was stopped just 5 metres out but Alton failed to capitalise after a loose pass and Field hacked upfield.
Field had a slight edge in the scrum, and the line outs were very competitive but Field had a real dominance in the rolling maul and after 13 minutes they kicked well to the corner.
Alton appeared to have an opportunity to relieve the pressure but the resulting kick was well charged down. Both teams seemed to stop as the ball appeared to be destined for touch, but the spinning ball stayed infield and the Field scrum half was the only player switched on to the resulting events. He fly-hacked the ball forward over the line and Alton dragged him back as he closed in to touch the ball down. Whether he reached the ball before it touched the end goal line is debatable, but the referee was in no doubt and awarded Field a penalty try. No conversion necessary as Field extended their lead to 0-10
This moment and the next 15 minutes were to prove pivotal in the game as Alton mounted a series of assaults on the Field line. They had several 5-metre scrums and lineouts but Field’s defence was immense as they stopped every attack through power in the forwards but also high pressure on the backs line. Alton did not have that cutting edge or pace to find a gap, and every error or misjudged pass was greeted with delight by the increasingly confident Field team and supporters.
Field took advantage, by closing the half in Alton territory and scoring again in the corner after two impressive drives from their forward pack after 35 minutes. The scoreline looked a little unfair on Alton, but Field’s defensive display was proving decisive, and they had taken their chances well. 0-15 at half-time
With Field kicking down the slope now, it was going to be a difficult second half for the Silverbacks and Field started the game with their tails up. Another Field maul was adjudged to be pulled down and Field extended their lead after a well-taken drop goal in midfield
Choosing to kick rather than run up the Anstey slope, Hamer took the game back to the Field 5 metre line with a well taken kick to the corner, and Tom Smethurst reduced the deficit from the resulting line out.5-18 after 48 minutes
However if a remarkable comeback was even a flickering thought in the Alton team, that light was duly extinguished just 4 minutes later as again Alton had no match for the Field rolling maul and Nick Stoffell was awarded a yellow card for collapsing. Field used the extra advantage well and had 3 players out wide as they crossed the line again for their third try in the corner. 5-25 after a superb conversion.
Hamer nearly broke through midfield, Sumner was pulled down by a last gasp defensive effort as Alton grew increasingly desperate as the clocked ticked down. Stoffell joined the fray again, but Alton failed to capitalise on a couple of chances and perhaps with calmer heads would have taken different options on occasion.
Field were given a yellow card for failing to retreat with Ed Thomas trying to take a quick penalty after 68 minutes, but the Field defensive line was not to be breached again as they halted every Alton attack despite their lack of numbers.
Alton never took a step back but the first half penalty try always had them chasing the game and they lacked the power and the pace of their performance when they beat Field at Penn’s Place earlier in the season. They stopped Field from securing a bonus point try but Field have now extended their lead to 7 points, with Alton still having the game in hand on their rivals.
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