The match also marked a reversal of fortunes for the home side, so often denied points despite possession and territory it was the turn of the visitors to be wasteful of their chances whilst Field seemed to draw blood with every attack.
Conditions could not have been better for running rugby; overcast but dry, cool and calm with a decent amount of give in the hallowed Penns Place turf to suit both backs and forwards alike.

From the Teddington kick-off, the early pressure was all from the visitors as they set up camp inside Field’s half. Some early chances to cross the whitewash went begging as overlaps were ignored before Field finally conceded a penalty just inside the halfway line. The Teddington kicker, who had been knocking over kicks for fun in the warm-up, didn’t disappoint and put his side into an early lead as the first quarter was petering out.

Field went on the hunt from the restart, the kick-chase giving them a rare moment of time in their opponents half and it wasn’t long before the pressure told; Teddington essayed a wayward clearance kick from their 22 which was fielded by Field’s scrumhalf, Michael Robbins, whose mighty cross-field pass switched play from right to left to set 2nd XV winger Carl Sharrock off on a mighty rumble toward the touchline. Teddington, distracted by fullback Tom Land running an outside line in support, had their defensive plans tattered by a magnificent hand-off from Sharrock who cantered in for Field’s first score, coolly converted by Nick Blumlein, (playing at inside centre for the day with Andy Barnes at 10).

From the restart, it was Teddington’s turn to ratchet up the pressure and, thanks to Field conceding far too many penalties in and around their 22, they had the platform of a 5m lineout to score their first try. Misfiring at the lineout for a lot of the season, Field got their act together beautifully to steal the throw in. When Teddington transgressed at the resultant maul, the home side were rewarded with a penalty to take them up to halfway.

Once more, Field used the territory to maximum advantage going through the phases from a penalty lineout in the Teddington 22, to switch play from one wing to the other and back to the centre to stretch the visitors’ defence. Almost through but held, Blumlein flicked a backhand pass to put young Olly Pope clear through for Field’s second, converted, try.

The game resumed its lopsided look and Teddington, benefiting from yet more Field penalties, finally hooked up a decisive move to score their first try, unconverted, as the third quarter drew to a close.

As they had on the two previous occasions, Field used the restart to get a toehold in their guests 22 and pulled Teddington out of shape once more to set up a try for Land that, in honesty, was made easier by poor tackling. Blumlein added the extras.

The pattern of the game apparently set in stone; Teddington went down the other end and established themselves in Field’s half. More penalties and some missed tackles later, they had crossed for their second, this time converted.

The halftime whistle sounded with Field 21-15 to the good.

Field’s bonus point try came within minutes of the start of the second half; an inside ball from Barnes to Sharrock set the winger free to rumble down the empty 9-10 channel before he was finally put to the deck near the Teddington 1om line. Sharrock fed Blumlein from deck as the centre cut back against the grain to confound the defence. The young man won the foot race to score in the corner before slotting a tremendous kick to take his side to 28-15.

True to the tit for tat nature of the game, Teddington hit back followed by an immediate riposte from Field Captain and player of the match, Matt Momber, (Blumlein unable to repeat his earlier kick from the wide right to secure the extras). Ten minutes later, and a few minutes in to the final quarter, Teddington scored again to secure a try-bonus point and pull the scores back to 33-25.

Of the two teams, Field finished stronger apart from a, somewhat controversial, breakout by Teddington from their 22 that was halted by Toby Sydenham bulldozing the Teddington winger into touch in Field’s 22.

An odd game but one to build on as Field look toward their final games in London South West 3, for now. Relegation is confirmed (barring unforeseen circumstances elsewhere in the league) but the side can still climb a place in the table and will be keen to avoid the bottom spot currently held by Teddington.

Next week, Field travel away to Warlingham – who they beat 17-14 in the home leg in December - before returning home on the 6th April to face Portsmouth in the final game of the season.