Saxons Surprise Petersfield with Impressive Performance

The Saxons have enjoyed playing Petersfield in regular joint training sessions and matches since U8 and were looking forward to hosting them again for the return leg, after our visit to Petersfield on 2 Oct 16.

It was a cold day following the passing of Storm Steven and despite a rugby post having been blown down, the conditions were great with the pitch in good condition. We warmed up and ran a training session with Petersfield before getting ready for the matches which would comprise 3 x 15 minute games to allow rotation of players, trialling players in positions and to allow in-match coaching.

Right from the start the Gosport Saxons played with real conviction. This was a real team effort, with a strong, committed defence, tackling, rucking and winning the ball. The whole team then quickly moved into attack. Initially the Saxons were moving the ball down the line without conviction or making any penetration in the Petersfield defence, but after those early minutes our attacking spirit returned and we started to make breaks.

Players were receiving the ball and giving it something; a yard or two, before pasing it, or identifying a chance for a break. When breaks were made, we had support players ready to provide continuity in attack.

Jack was the first to strike, making a great break and using pace to finsh the try himself which settled nerves and inspired the team. After that we started to compete even more for the ball and had Petersfield on the back foot and defensive. Our attacks did not break down, because we had support players who were there to either receive the ball or win it at the breakdown. They kept going until we scored or Petersfield won the ball back. The forwards were working together as a fearsome pack, the backs were organised had different styles of attack, were running dummy runners and were being imaginative from the free-passes and from the back of the solid scrums.

Jack went on to score 4 more tries as well as make some crucial telling tackles and was deserved Player of the Match but this was a whole team effort. Rob H cut through the defence to score, Ollie was too much to handle and scored a determined try and Matthew C had a briiliant performance at scrum half, mixing up the deliveries and deceiving Petersfield with a dummy and darting run to score.

Petersfield did answer with a well worked try down the wing and showed their attacking strength and strong runners, but it was the whole team effort of the Saxons that decided the day. The Petersfield Coaches were full of praise for a team they have watched develop and they are looking forward to playing us again.

The Saxons earned the win on Sunday, it was not lucky and the best thing is the Saxons clearly enjoyed it.