PETERSFIELD 23, WALCOUNTIANS 25

PETERSFIELD and Old Walcountians both went into this Junior Vase tie with 100 per cent win records and it was the visitors who headed back to the M25 in triumph – albeit by just two points in a gripping encounter.

’Field, who top the Hampshire 1 table, were having their first meeting with the club formed in 1932 by former boys of Wallington Grammar School.

The ‘Counts’, standing third in Surrey 2, had an early let-off when Petersfield scrum-half Josh Haslett saw his penalty slide wide of the posts.

The visitors countered from the restart, but a stray pass was seized upon by the hosts and the ball was fed out to Jay Bremner who punted down the touchline for Charlie Matthews to chase. The young speedster had his work cut out, but still outpaced the defence to touch down for a try.

In a half littered with penalties on both sides, Tom Harrison eventually landed three points for Walcountians. Two minutes later, the visitors turned another penalty into a rolling maul and hooker Rob Fleming burrowed his way over for a try.

’Field replied with a Haslett penalty and then took the lead with an excellent charge-down try from prop Sam Brown, only for the Counts to hit back with a touch-down from prop Dom Bell after a superb run by winger Harrison and the conversion gave them a 15-13 lead at the interval.

Petersfield kicked off and within two minutes had edged in front again; Haslett again unerring with the boot from another penalty.

Just as quickly, however, the wheels started to fall off for Petersfield as they failed to control the restart and gifted their opponents territory and possession.

With a number of quick phases, Walcountians overwhelmed the home side’s scrambling defence and skipper Will Thornton sent Marvin Fletcher-Rogers over wide on the right.

With just ten minutes of the half gone, Fleming scored his second try, this time from a driving maul, and although both conversions were missed, the Counts seemed to have put the tie to bed at 25-16.

Try as they might, Petersfield could not find a way through a disciplined defence until, with barely minutes remaining, Kieran Gericke finished off a fine attacking move and Haslett kicked a fine conversion from near the touchline to close the gap to two points.

However, the visitors managed to run down the clock and they take their place in the second round.

Petersfield now return their focus to the league and Saturday’s home fixture with mid-table Sandown & Shanklin.