Petersfield RFC extend Hampshire Premier lead with floodlit victory at Havant 2nds

With Alton then losing at Fordingbridge the following day, it allowed them to stretch their lead to seven points as they chase an instant return to London 3 South West rugby.

In the build-up to the game, Field’s coaching team had deemed it an honour to play against ‘the most prominent rugby club in the south’.

They knew their charges would need to be on their mettle against a side that could potentially contain players with high London league match experience.

In the end, however, there was no repeat of the tension witnessed in the 17-17 draw slogged out in atrocious conditions at Penns Place earlier in the season.

Field opened the scoring on 15 minutes with an unconverted try, followed by a penalty try just before the end of the first quarter.

Havant fought back and halfway through the second quarter took the lead for the only time courtesy of converting two of their tries.

This was to be a short-lived revival, however, as Field struck within minutes of Havant’s second try to regain the lead.

In a match of tricky kicking, the extras went begging but the visitors went in at the break at 14-17.

Field knocked over a penalty within two minutes of the restart before adding a further two tries, one converted, to extend their lead to 18 points halfway through the final quarter.

Havant scored yet another converted try - Simon Morgan adding the extras for the third time - with less than five minutes to go before Field claimed a sixth try and their 14th bonus point success of the season

'It was a great win against a good Havant side,' said senior coach Jason Ford.

'The team played well and we showed the accuracy in attack and defence that was needed.

'It was heartening to see the players delivering on the things we’d worked on in training and bodes well for the remaining fixtures.”

'Our boys are showing good fitness and a desire to succeed.

'We still have tough games to come and the 'P' (promotion) word is banned.'