PREVIEW – Petersfield (H)
It has been a long couple of weeks between games, following the postponement last week, but we will hopefully see some action this time around as East meets West (Hampshire) with Petersfield heading to Water Lane for the first time for a league game in 22 years.
MATCH: Tottonians v Petersfield
VENUE: Water Lane, Totton, SO40 3ZX
COMPETITION: Regional Division 2 South Central
DATE: Saturday 14th December 2024
KICK-OFF: 2:00pm
ADMISSION: FREE (as always!)
LIVE MATCH UPDATES: On our Twitter/X channel @Tottonians
OVERVIEW:
It was mightily frustrating last weekend. The 3rd XV played their match with New Milton 2s on the main Water Lane pitch where there should have been a ‘back to business’ Regional 2 South Central fixture with North Dorset. Storm Darragh’s might put paid with the visitors concerned to travel.
So it has been two weeks since the Farnham defeat and the players are chomping at the bit to get back to it. And so now turn their attention to visitors from the East in the shape of Petersfield, who gave us a mighty tussle in the sunshine back in September with us coming out on top – just – 30-26.
The Counties 1 Hampshire league winners from last season were certainly making some waves early in the campaign – our win at Penns Place was their only defeat in the four games in September. However, one win from their last seven since sees them down in seventh place with 27 points. It is not the return they would have liked, especially last weekend when they slipped to a 23-15 reverse at Newbury.
That will only make them more determined to come to Water Lane on Saturday and get their campaign back on track, much like Totts need to do having sat out last weekend which allowed the Surrey league leaders to open up a seven point cushion at the top and for Winchuhester to close the gap and go level on points with us.
A sold out pre-match lunch will see a lively atmosphere for this Hampshire derby where Tottonians put their impressive home record back on the line. It should be a great afternoon – and there is plenty going on too as the 2nd XV host Ventnor on the second pitch and there is a live band in the evening too.
Water Lane is the place to be on Saturday, that is for sure!
TEAM NEWS:
Once again there is a raft of team changes with a plethoria of injuries and unavailability taking their toll but Totts are still able to field a strong squad for the game.
In the backs, there is a debut for recent new signing Jake Grimes on the wing. Jake, who joined the club a month ago from Bicester but hasn’t been available as yet due to him getting married so comes straight into the 1st XV with his plentiful experience. Ethan Riley switches back to full-back with Robbie Searle back at 10 and there is a return for the evergreen Rich Buck in the centre as Tom Tully misses his first game of the season.
In the forwards, Callum Turvey comes into the second row and Scott Rogers is back on the flank, moving Connor Andrews across to blindside.
And there are recalls for the evergreen Mark Amey on the bench while Rich O’Donnell is back from injury and Ali Ramus make up the experienced ‘bomb squad’.
HISTORY and STATS:
This will be the 15th league meeting between the sides, dating back to Petersfield being match number 5 in our league history all the way back on 17 October 1987 with Totts winning that game 15-5 for our second ever win!
Head to head wise, the tally is 8-6 to Tottonians with us holding a 5-2 record at home. Totts have won six of the last 8 meetings going back to a classic game in 1996 which the Daily Echo reported was a pulsating game that Totts played their best rugby in the first half to lead 24-8 but Petersfield rallied, causing some late anxiety. Nick Lee (2), Julian Howell and the “outstanding” Jonathan Hori scored tries while Paul Goodall hit three penalties and three conversions in the 35-31 victory.
There was another nail jangler in February 1998 where Totts recovered from a nightmare first 20 minutes being totally dominated by ‘Field but came back into the game with a Steve Lacey try and Goodall’s conversion and three penalties gave them the advantage before the visitors scored late on – but good defence from the Totts line ensured the victory came.
The last league meeting between the sides at Water Lane came on 23 November 2002 in London 4 South-West – the only time previously that we have met outside of Hampshire 1. Totts came into the game at the top of the table and stretched the lead to six points but “were given a hard game against a resurgent Petersfield.”
In heavy conditions, Totts opened up a 16-0 lead but the second half was considerably more even with the scoreline remaining unchanged until the last 10 minutes when Simon Dine drove over and secured the points. Mike Searle’s try and Goodall three penalties and two conversions were enough although Neil Arnold replied with a well struck penalty but Totts came through 23-3.
It is worth mentioning a game held this very weekend 26 years ago – 12th December 1998. League leaders in Hampshire 1, Totts welcomed Petersfield in “awful conditions” and it was the visitors who adapted better and “really wanted to win the game, playing with greater aggression”. A fine defensive display and more effective in the loose, a penalty in each half was enough to spring the “surprise 6-0 defeat”. That result remains the lowest scoring Totts league defeat of all time!
