"The best 80 minutes of rugby we've played this

season," said delighted captain Derek Eldridge after league leaders Petersfield had beaten third-placed Sandown & Shanklin on Saturday.

Equally pleased was director of rugby Mike O'Shea. "An outstanding performance" said the ex-Navy No 8. "We hope and indeed want to better

ourselves and to play next

season in the higher London leagues.

"With the commitment we are getting from the lads and the increasing depth of our 1st XV squad, this is something we should aspire to and which I personally will revel in next year."

Petersfield had travelled to the Island fully aware of the challenge awaiting them. Sandown are a strong, physical team, with a robust approach to the game. Hooker George Rees' back and legs will attest to the truth of this.

Petersfield immediately took the game to Sandown. The front row of Ian Cuthbertson, Rees and Simon Poulter comprehensively demolished the home pack and, reinforced by Charlie Mason and Graeme Aggar in the second row, gave the back division a sound platform from which to play their running game.

The back row took on the home defence and held the centre of the field superbly. Bim MacKay was outstanding until he was forced to retire when a knee landed in his back. James Rapley is the target man 'Field run off and he did this to great effect. Jamie Williams, only stopped running when he was sin-binned for fighting.

But it was the backs who turned on the style and ran in six of Petersfield's seven tries. Richard Alderman was first to cross after Anthony Lintern and Eldridge had done the work from a set-piece. Eldridge scored himself after a mis-move by Dave Holden had put him away.

Sandown got back into the game with a penalty, before Neil Arnold, using his speed on the right wing, hammered through on a kick-ahead and swooped on a disorganised defence to seize the try.

At half-time, Petersfield were 21-3 ahead, Lintern adding to his fine distribution game with a penalty and a drop goal.

Sandown struck back with a James Dove try at the restart, but 'Field quickly restored their discipline. Pressing upfield, they gained a penalty five metres from the Sandown line. Scrum-half James Martin grabbed the ball at the mark and dived through the defenders' legs for a cheeky score, pegging the Islanders back again.

Lintern unselfishly put Eldridge in following a series of drives and attacks. Then Aussie Matt Rogers, celebrating his return to the senior XV, showed speed and good hands to score the sixth try.

Finally, Sandown had to defend a lineout on their own line. Aggar stole the ball, Rees drove through, Aggar cleared the ruck and Poulter beat Cuthbertson to the ball to touch down. Lintern added another penalty and a left-footed drop goal, 'Field had won 45-10 and Mike O'Shea's smile could be heard in Petersfield.