The annual Boxing Day Andy Millar Cup match at Petersfield Rugby Club saw the Gowns beat the Town team 43-38.

The Town team – drawn from Petersfield’s senior players – met the Gowns, a team selected from players returning to the area for the festive season, including university undergraduates, graduates and others who have moved away for work or family commitments.

In recent years the game has been a somewhat unbalanced affair with Gown being victorious often by big margins.

This year the available players had the selectors spoilt for choice with several regular first-team players available, as well as a number of colts, second-team and veteran-team players.

More than 150 supporters watched the match.

The match started gently as both teams shook off the excesses of Christmas Day and familiarised themselves with their team-mates.

As confidence built and energy increased it was Town who set down the marker for the day by scoring three tries to one scored by Gown.

At the half-time whistle the scores were even with both teams posting five tries.

Gown advanced the scoreboard by scoring three unanswered tries after the break.

Town regrouped and scored two tries, the last of which featured excellent combination play between Carl Sharrock and Chad White.

Sharrock drove through the defence and found White on his outside shoulder. White found he was being closed down and grubber kicked along the touchline to brush off his tackler as he crossed the line to score in the corner.

Andy Millar’s widow Celia stepped up to present the trophy to the winning Gown team.

The game was applauded by the teams and the spectators before everyone adjourned to the clubhouse for warmth and sustenance while agreeing to meet again next Boxing Day.

By Chris Todd