FARNHAM hardly played like former title contenders, but still did enough to complete a league double over a hard-working Petersfield at Wrecclesham on Saturday.

The Hampshire side dominated the first half, but perhaps showed their inexperience at this level as they failed to close the game out.

Farnham must have been relieved to be eating their half-time oranges only seven points adrift of the visitors.

Petersfield took the game to Farnham with some excellent driving play by the forwards who probably gave their best display as a unit this season. With James Martin, Neil Arnold and Dave Holden running strongly, the pressure was firmly on Farnham.

The line-out was working well with Graham Aggar and Charlie Mason performing skilfully for 'Field in the difficult conditions.

Eventually, the pressure told and quick-thinking James Martin darted over from 20 metres at a tap penalty. Dave Wheeler added the conversion, but subsequently missed two penalty attempts.

And 'Field were disappointed to have a try disallowed when Simon Poulter, sliding in the mud, was driven over the line.

In the second half, a more unified Farnham took their opponents literally by the scruff of the neck and started to bully them, much as they had done in the earlier encounter.

A try after 10 minutes (all spent in the Petersfield half) by wing-forward Adam Christie after a punishing maul put Farnham back in contention, but the comeback took longer than expected.

Poor execution in the final third of the pitch gave Petersfield many a lifeline, and the visitors themselves were unlucky not to score.

The Farnham defence, the second stingiest in the league, made up for an under-par performance in terms of breaking Petersfield's own stubborn defensive line.

The winning score came with just five minutes to go when Paul Kelly scored in the far left corner, injuring himself in the process, after a good phase of rucking and mauling, and excellent handling by the back line.

Petersfield's cause was not helped by a flood of injuries, with Dave Wheeler, Ian Palmer and Peter Winterbottom and James Martin all having to be replaced.

They were down to 14 men when Farnham scored the try that won the match.