Petersfield returned to winning ways with an impressive 31-12 victory at Guildford in South Central Two on Saturday.

Field had lost their previous four matches by started the game on the front foot.

Petersfield spent the first 15 minutes in the Guildford half.

During this time Petersfield’s pack dominated several scrums and marched Guildford backwards several metres each time without reward from the referee.

For most of the second quarter Guildford dominated field position while Petersfield defended with determination.

With just minutes of the half left Petersfield won yet another scrum inside the Guildford half and number eight Liam Perkins powered his way into the 22.

Via several hands the ball arrived with accelerating winger Seb Tuff, who scrambled over the tryline by the corner post to open the scoring.

Nick Blumlein added the extras from the touchline on the 22 to put Field 7-0 ahead.

Well into added time, and from the first scrum penalty awarded against Guildford for breaking their binding, captain for the day prop Dan Sargent bulldozed through the Guildford defence for an unconverted try.

Half-time was signalled with Petersfield leading 12-0.

Very early in the second half winger Ethan Horsfall cleanly caught a catch and set off down his wing and, as he was closed down, passed in field.

Poor handling and a poor pass gifted a try to the advancing hosts, and the conversion made the score 12-7.

A similar scenario was repeated from the restart, where Guildford prospered in the left corner for an unconverted try just three minutes into the half.

The scores were now level at 12-12.

Charlie Muir suffered a serious ankle injury and was replaced with more than 30 minutes to play.

Horsfall ran from halfway to intercept a pass and split the Guildford defence 15 metres to the left of the posts to score his maiden first-team try.

The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but Petersfield led 17-12.

From close range Petersfield secured the ball and passed to a sprinting Will Mathews, who aimed straight at the centre of the uprights to touch down and score Field’s bonus-point try.

Blumlein added the extras to Petersfield’s fourth try to put the visitors 24-12 ahead.

In the closing moments of the match, with autumnal dusk descending, Petersfield ambitiously ran the ball from inside their half.

The ball was passed to Blumlein, who saw that the left wing was poorly defended by the home side and launched a kick pass into the path of lightning-fast winger Tuff.

Tuff caught the ball cleanly and outpaced and stepped outside Guildford’s defender to score close to the left corner after running more than 50 metres.

Blumlein added the conversion to seal an impressive 31-12 victory for Petersfield.

Player-coach Perkins said: “After four losses the first team needed to win to rebuild the collective confidence and prepare to meet fourth in the table Winchester at home on Saturday, November 30.”

Petersfield’s second team won 33-24 at home to Locks Heath Pumas in Hampshire Counties Two on Saturday.

By Chris Todd