The ceding of last week’s Hampshire Bowl fixture due to a lack of senior players forced an unexpected rest period that seemed to have paid dividends in the opening ten-minutes of the 1st XV’s encounter with top-of-the-table, Winchester.

The red team went on the offensive from the kick-off, putting their guests under pressure in their own half with good phase play, building to what they hoped would be the opening score. However, it was not to be, and Winchester were able to break at last into Field’s half where a penalty set them up for their first scoring opportunity with a lineout in Field’s 22.

This sucker punch was swiftly followed by the straight right of a second try and Field were reeling on the ropes. For the remainder of the first quarter, the home side battled to regain their defensive shape as Winchester dragged them from one side of the pitch to the other before landing what should have been the knock-out blow with a third try at the start of the second quarter – this one converted.

Staring down the barrel of their sixth consecutive league defeat of the season, Field’s players reacted in the manner their supporters have come to know and love. Like Monty Python’s Black Knight, the players stood up, dusted themselves down and went back on the attack. Field’s pack, once again imperious at scrum time, set the platform for the side’s return to the oppositions half, with the backs making yards beyond the gain line as the team worked its way into the Winchester 22.

When the defence conceded a penalty just yards from the line, the red team had no hesitation in going for another set piece. The result was another demolition job and, with another penalty secured from the fractured scrum, the side pressed their advantage and Field’s player of the match, prop Sam Brown, crashed over to score. Unfortunately for Field, however, the referee was the wrong side of the maul and didn’t see what was obvious to those supporters behind the posts and deemed the ball held up.

Field were awarded a five-metre scrum and, with Winchester girding themselves for a push over, did the unexpected and spun the ball quickly through the hands to Aaron Cartwright on the left wing. With the line beckoning, the winger was tackled into touch in goal without grounding the ball. The referee deemed the challenge to be high and, with the consecutive offences racking up for Winchester, immediately awarded a penalty try before issuing a yellow card to the tackler.

Despite their man advantage through to halftime, Field could not breach the Winchester line and went in at the break 7-17.

The halftime team talk obviously worked well for Winchester as they came out of their corner swinging, with two more converted tries in the opening ten minutes of the game to secure their try bonus and the match.

Once again, Field refused to give in and a scintillating break by Tom Franks, returning to the team after a long-term injury, resulted in the team’s second try; ably converted by Josh Haslett.

The joy of the home support was short lived, though, as Winchester continued their ruthless punishment of Field errors, running in three more tries in the space of ten-minutes. Hopes for an unlikely 4-try bonus point were raised for Field when the high stepping Franks essayed a powerful surge up the middle of the pitch, bursting two tackles as he ran from halfway. As he was eventually felled he fed the ball to the quicksilver Seb Tuff, who finished with aplomb under the posts. Haslett’s usually reliable boot was off target for the extras and the ball shaved the outside of the left post.

This was to be the last score of the game, which was not without further incident. A serious injury to a Winchester player required the attention of the emergency services, so the final eight minutes of the match were played out on another pitch. As the minutes ticked away, Field put together an impressive series of phases as they attempted to secure their fourth try. Unfortunately for the home side, they were adjudged to have held on too long at a ruck just five metres out and the resulting penalty allowed Winchester to clear their lines and bring the game to an end.

Coach Alder was typically bullish in his assessment of the match, “The score line flatters Winchester but main take away from the match is that you have to take your opportunities when they arise, and that’s what Winchester did. With some miss communication in defence we allowed some easy tries.

To the players’ credit they never gave up and showed they were equal to the opposition in many areas and outplayed them in some. The forwards once again dominated at scrum time, the line out was successful and there was great ball carrying in open play. The backs cut terrific running lines which showed in the try of the game with Franks and Tuff combining.

I believe that the players deserved at least a point from the game and afterwards I pushed the point that they are competitive in this league and I’m positive the rewards will come if we continue to persevere like we did in this match.
Our player of the match, Sam Brown, was closely pushed for the honour by Hooker, Nic Wilde. Wilde is one of our many young players who are showing great promise at this level, the teenage half back partnership of Alfie Casson and Tom Land are rapidly developing into an effective combination.”

Field travel away to Old Tiffinians next Saturday. In the corresponding fixture last season, Field recorded a high scoring draw (31-31) against the Surrey side who finished just above them in the league.