Hampshire Premier leaders Petersfield extend advantage at the top... Fareham Heathens facing survival battle

Field hold a seven-point lead second-placed Alton, who have a game in hand.

The home side opened up a 24-7 lead by half-time despite being hampered by an awkward gusting wind.

It was halfway through the opening quarter when the home side made their initial breakthrough.

The forwards rumbled over from a line-out for the first of nine tries and Nick Blumlein added the conversion.

Fordingbridge levelled the scores before the hosts took charge.

Andrew Wood pounced on a kick from winger Phillip Ryan into the in-goal area and soon afterwards the latter scorched in for a try of his own.

Fellow winger George Davey notched the bonus-point score before the break.

The second half was virtually all Petersfield, who scored a further five tries into the teeth of a howling gale.

Field coach Jim Pearce summed up the mood of the camp and said ‘It’s strange to feel despondent after a 55-12 win, but that’s how we were as a squad after the match.

‘I guess that shows how far we’ve come collectively and the standards we have set for ourselves.

‘We never really got out of first gear against a side that Fordingbridge did well to put together after thinking that they would have to postpone twice during the week.

‘Still, it is five-points in the bag and we can look to move forward. '

n Fareham Heathens are facing a battle to stay in the Hampshire Premier following their 50-21 home defeat against Havant 2nds.