Petersfield First XV were rested this Saturday due to the second of the season’s reserve Saturdays, which are scheduled to allow any postponed fixtures to be played. Since there were no postponed matches in the South Central II league, league positions remain as they were on 26 October.

With a third of the season completed, Petersfield sit mid-table in sixth place in a league of 12 teams. Players and coaches acknowledge that they could have been higher, having won three and lost four of their seven games. Of these losses, Petersfield earned maximum losing points in three out of the four matches and took maximum points in their three victories.

With 21 league points, Petersfield are just three points behind third-placed Bournemouth, who will visit Penns Place next Saturday, 9 November. Of the other two teams promoted to the league, North Dorset currently sit in eighth place, and Andover are in eleventh, despite beating Petersfield in October and taking maximum points.

This season, Petersfield have increased the number of adult players, which has helped in fulfilling fixtures and fielding competitive teams across all levels. The First XV have already utilised thirty players, which has occasionally resulted in unfamiliarity among teammates. Despite good attendance at training, this has sometimes led to unforced errors, creating opportunities for the opposition.

There has, however, been notable consistency, with eleven players selected for six or more matches. Playing in six matches are Alex Duffus, Ryan Morse, Charlie Muir, Liam Perkins, Miles Sampson, Karter Whittock, and Nic Wilde. Leading the way are four players who have participated in all seven matches: Nick Blumlein, Will Mathews, Dan Sargent, and Franco Tomic.

Director of Rugby Matt McLean commented, “It’s been frustrating for the players and coaching team to lose matches by seven points or fewer and to have scored four or more tries in those games, which has brought us the maximum losing points in three matches. But we could not close off the games and win.”

McLean was asked about the team’s approach to the first twenty minutes, where they’ve tended to start slowly and have often been more productive in the second half. He stated that, generally, the pack have proven to be on par with their opposition in both technique and fitness. With several senior players in the pack, they have managed to hold their own, while also helping to develop some younger teammates.

The backs boast some talented individuals who, when available for selection, form a formidable group. However, McLean identified a weakness in the form of one or two backs who could consistently break through defences or outpace opponents. Unforced errors at close quarters or in open play have, unfortunately, compromised field position.

A recurring issue among Petersfield’s First XV, both now and in previous seasons, is the tendency to concede unnecessary penalties, often due to over-enthusiasm and, in some cases, uncontrolled verbal reactions to referees’ decisions. This is often a reflection of player frustration.

McLean noted that these areas will be a training focus over the coming weeks: “to start quickly, improve the accuracy of basic skills under pressure, and to manage the game and officials more wisely.”

Upcoming Fixtures

With four more fixtures before reaching the halfway point of the season, there is an opportunity to climb the table as league fixtures reverse. Petersfield face:

Bournemouth (3rd) at home on 9 November,
Guildford (12th) away on 16 November,
Winchester (4th) at home on 30 November, and
Newbury (10th) away on 7 December.

With home advantage often a factor, facing two higher-ranked teams at Penns Place could positively influence both the players and the results. Achieving a mid-table or higher position by the halfway point would set a promising standard for the remainder of the season.

Scored Points

Tries: 28 tries, including 1 penalty try, totalling 147 points
Conversions: 20 successful conversions = 40 points
Penalties: 5 successful penalties = 15 points

Total Scored Points: 202 points

Points Conceded

Tries Against: 25 tries (125 points)
Conversions Against: 15 conversions (30 points)
Penalties Against: 13 penalties (39 points)

Total Points Conceded: 196 points

Top Try Scorers

Dan Sargent - 8 tries (40 points)
Miles Sampson - 5 tries (25 points)
Liam Perkins - 2 tries (10 points)
Jack Janaway - 2 tries (10 points)
Seb Tuff - 2 tries (10 points)
Nic Wilde - 2 tries (10 points)

Other Try Scorers:

George Davis - 1 try (5 points)
Will Mathews - 1 try (5 points)
Franko Tomic - 1 try (5 points)
Alex Duffus - 1 try (5 points)
Charlie Muir - 1 try (5 points)
Tom Land - 1 try (5 points)
Matt Momber - 1 try (5 points)

Kicking Stats

As the only kicker so far this season, fly half Nick Blumlein’s kicking success rate has been key across these closely fought games. Here’s a look at his performance:

Successful Conversions: 20 (40 points)
Successful Penalties: 5 (15 points)
Total Points from Kicks: 58 points
Overall Kicking Percentage: 71.4% (25 successful kicks out of 35 attempts)