PETERSFIELD XV 0, Royal Navy President’s XV 27. The Navy repeated their victory in last year’s inaugural match and this time Petersfield failed to register a score.

But the real business of the night was fund-raising and, in total, £2,200 was collected for the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and Town Mayor James Deane’s chosen charity, Dementia Friends, Petersfield.

A packed programme began with supper in the clubhouse, and there was also a barbecue, bar and refreshments.

But the weather didn’t play ball and a freezing fog, a real pea-souper, developed, thick enough to obscure the view of one try-line from the other and, at times, even the opposite touchline.

After the ‘warm-up’ games between the host club’s mini teams, a powerful Petersfield team, comprising mainly 1st XV regulars, put up a typically mean defence before a shrill blast through the blanketing fog announced a try for the Navy. Conversions, of course, were a guessing game.

’Field, with their forward power, had numerous opportunities to scrum the ball over the line, but the Navy blockade proved effective and they defended their 5-0 lead until the interval.

Petersfield rang the changes throughout the second half, giving everyone a run-out, but at the cost of consistency. The RN, in contrast, took their chances clinically to rack up a further four tries, one of which was – amazingly – converted.

All in all, another cracking game of rugby, with ’Field beaten by a very good Navy side. The crowd were thoroughly entertained by (what they could see of it) the match, which looks likely to be an annual event.

Club secretary Rob Mocatta presented a cheque to representatives of the two charities. However, in an act of true generosity, the Navy donated their portion to the Mayor’s Dementia Friends charity, citing the fact that they had benefitted from all of the monies raised last year.