Match Preview

Petersfield’s 1st XV travel to the Isle of Wight to face Sandown and Shanklin RFC on Saturday, the 1st XV for their opening league fixture of the season.

The trip across the water to the “South Island” has historically not gone down well for travelling sides from Petersfield. Whether it be jet-lag from the long journey or something in the water, in the past few years Field have fared poorly. Last season, for example, the red team won well at home, but lost heavily away to the Isle of Wight RFC.

Having scored 145-points in their three last games, for the loss of just 32, the 1st XV will be hoping to carry their momentum into the fixture and start the league with a bang.

Sandown and Shanklin will also be striving to put a marker down for the season. The Hurricanes, (aka “The Hooligans” back in the day), will be keen to put last season behind them when they dropped out of London 3 South West - finishing just above the bottom with a record of 16-losses from their 22-games and a points-scored difference of -208.

By coincidence, Field meet The Hurricanes’ fellow dropees, Ellingham & Ringwood, at home next week.