On to round two of the Regional 2 South Central season and the first Hampshire derby of the campaign as we travel to Penns Place in Petersfield for the first time in a competitive game since 2003!
MATCH: Petersfield v Tottonians
VENUE: Penns Place, Petersfield, GU31 4EP
COMPETITION: Regional Division 2 South Central
DATE: Saturday 14th September 2024
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
ADMISSION: FREE
LIVE MATCH UPDATES: On our Twitter/X channel @Tottonians
OVERVIEW:
For the first time in 21 years, we head over to East Hampshire to face a side on the rise in Petersfield. Run-away winners of Counties 1 Hampshire last season, ‘Field have recruited strongly over the last number of seasons, including picking up Hampshire captain Liam Perkins and a number of fellow County stars who had been plying their trade in the National Leagues with Worthing and the like.
They are the only other side in the division to have maximum points after the first round of games, beating North Dorset on the opening day so host for a second weekend in a row.
TEAM NEWS:
There are a number of changes from last weekend’s Chobham victory with first starts of the season for Jamie Laing at full-back, Tom Gregory in the front row, Ali Ramus joins debutant Semisi Matatolu in the second row while Connor Andrews and Nic Jansen, the second on debut on Saturday, fill in the back row.
Having impressed in pre-season, Callum Turvey returns to the 1st XV bench for the first time since the first game of the 2021/22 season.
HISTORY and STATS:
This will be the 14th league meeting between the sides, having played each other in the first ever season of league rugby in 1987/88 in Hampshire Division 1. We would so go our separate ways, Totts down to Hampshire 2 for a couple of seasons but we returned to the field in 1991, winning our home game 20-0 with tries from Tim Pidgley, Keith Searle and Rob Budd while Andy Smith kicked a conversion and a penalty.
Totts would lose the next three meetings until 1996 when we came out on top 35-31 (Nick Lee 2T, Julian Howell 1T, Jonathan Hori 1T, Paul Goodall 3C 3P) and there was another high scorer in September 1997 with Totts winning 43-25 at Penns Place.
Remarkably though, this is the first meeting of the sides since the 2002/03 season. At Water Lane on 23 November 2022, the Daily Echo reported (it was me, actually!) that it was a hard-fought game against a resurgent Petersfield side. “After wading through the heavy conditions to open up a 16-0 lead, the second half was considerably more even and remained scoreless until the visitors ran out of steam in the last ten, when Simon Dine furthered his growing reputation at hooker to drive over and secure the points.
“Take nothing away from Petersfield though, who gained some territorial advantage with their driving mauls but had no answer to the Tottonians solidity in defence after Michael Searle’s try and Paul Goodall’s three penalties and conversions had moved the hosts well clear.
“Neil Arnold replied for Field with a well struck penalty, but they could not break the resolve and Totts march on to the intriguing Intermediate Cup clash at Thurrock next Saturday”.
The final game was the last game of that season and Tottonians had already sealed the title and promotion but captain Miles Northover didn’t want to take the game lightly. Maybe they did, maybe they didn’t on 12 April 2003 but the still lost 30-25 although Petersfield did give the visitors a guard of honour! There is no report from that game in the newspaper … maybe the captain was a little too worse for wear on that particular Sunday!!!
