Hampshire Division One rivals Petersfield and Southampton, both winners on Saturday, continue their neck-and-neck race at the top of the table.

Petersfield's game at Millbrook only went ahead after a lengthy pitch inspection, with Lordshill Rec resembling a water-meadow. Referee Finbarr Dodd finally decided that the second XV pitch was playable, with the teams differing in their views.

The experienced official was proved right and the sides played as free-flowing a game as the conditions would allow. Every step was greeted with a splash and when 'Field's big locks Graeme Aggar and Charlie Mason powered down the pitch, there was a palpable bow-wave.

Millbrook met a solid defence which was impressive throughout. Petersfield had elected to defend the shallow end and once they had found their footing, kept their hosts holed up in their own territory.

'Field broke through midway through the period when Chris Beeves was the beneficiary of an overlap on the left.

That was the start of a three-try spell in 13 minutes. Prop Ian Cuthbertson was at the forefront of a forward drive to score and when skipper Derek Eldridge left the cover defence in his wake, the Penns Place team had eased themselves into the driving seat.

Richard Harrison continued his fine work in the lineout and a good catch early in the second half created Petersfield's fourth try, with Bim MacKay making the touch-down.

But Millbrook did not go down without a fight and were rewarded for the efforts with a try from pacy winger Richard Wyre.

However, they were powerless to prevent a closing score for the visitors, Beeves adding his second try as he waltzed through unopposed from a pick-up at the back of a ruck.

Anthony Lintern added an excellent conversion, his only success on the water-sodden pitch, although his tactical kicking in the second half was an important factor for Petersfieldield.

Director of rugby Mike O'Shea was a relieved man at the end. "I am very pleased to have picked up the two points and come through the game unscathed," he said. "I was having some palpitations about what might happen out there on the journey down, but in the end the side played well."

There is no respite for Petersfield who entertain third-placed Guernsey at Penns Place this Saturday (2-30 pm).

Petersfield: B Martin, Eldridge, Alderman, Arnold, Rogers, Lintern, J Martin (Pickford 74 mins), Poulter, Rees, Cuthbertson (Winterbottom 73 mins), Aggar, Mason, Harrison, Beeves, Mackay (Litchfield 66 mins).