Andover pull off shock home win against high-flying Petersfield

The visitors came into the game unbeaten and as highly fancied title contenders.

But despite having comfortably beaten Andover on both occasions they met last term, it was a very different outfit that greeted them at the Goodship ground last Saturday, as Andover showed an intensity and desire that has been missing in the last three games.

Playing down the slope in front of a large noisy crowd, Andover showed attacking intent straight away going through phases and making inroads with ball in hand.

In defence they were secure with Evan Roll and CJ Feirn to the fore, but one worrying sign early on was a creaking scrum which Feirn did superbly to manage throughout the game.

On ten minutes good work from Alex Kane led to a high tackle and gave the returning Matt Ryan a chance to give Andover the lead, but his kick was just wide.

Three minutes later however Andover did take the lead. Tom Erskine drove for the line from a loose lineout and when his offload found Callum Barber Starkey, the all action man of the match flanker needed no second bidding, with Ryan this time successful from wide out.

Andover looked good for the lead but on twenty minutes a high tackle saw Roll yellow carded. Andover were a player short but weathered the ten minutes well until just before its conclusion when a poor exit from defence gave Petersfield a counter attacking chance that they took neatly to level the scores.

Restored to full strength Andover's ferocious defence unsettled the visitors, with Barber Starkey, Tom Waite and Dave Barber all making huge hits.

As a result the Petersfield attack looked unusually ragged and after the impressive Bryn Waite had twice been unlucky with interception chances, Mitch Needham thought he'd have a go and the star fullback sprinted the length of the pitch to restore the Andover lead with Ryan again converting.

Before the break Ryan landed another penalty and Andover went in 17-7 to the good.

In the second half James Fleet replaced Roll and with slope against Andover expected an onslaught against them. It never really materialised however as Feirn, Barber Starkey and Ryan McGealy continued to win the back row battle.

The Andover scrum just about did enough to keep most of their ball and with the lineout much more secure of late skipper Alex Hibdidge and his men dug in. Ryan's boot kept giving Andover territory and in the end a high tackle gave him another successful penalty shot as Petersfield saw yellow.

With Stan North and Ioan Gwynne Davies orchestrating defence and attack in the midfield, Andover looked increasingly dangerous and a great move involving Tom Waite and Needham, Bryn Waite was tackled just short.

A mix up by Petersfield at the resultant lineout however saw giant lock Barber dived over for a decisive try again converted by Ryan.

Andover brought on the fresh legs of Callum Hollinshead and Fin Waite.

With ten to go as expected Petersfield threw everything at Andover and despite more brave defence in the end Andover could not hold out and

the visitors scored a good converted try, to trail by thirteen with five minutes to go.

Andover did not sit back and created two penalty chances of their own, but instead of kicking them to kill the game decided to go for a bonus point try. The high risk strategy did not work and Petersfield broke with a length of the pitch try, which crucially was not converted leaving them still two scores adrift.

With moments left this meant Petersfield could not realistically score twice, but could still get two bonus point of their own. Andover were having none of it however and when a late surge saw the ball held up over the line after another huge defensive set involving Nic Reed Andover gratefully kicked the ball into touch and the celebrations began.

Afterwards Director of Rugby Andy Waite said 'We have trained really hard during the week off and really sorted out a couple of areas of weakness and it showed today. The challenge for us is to now carry that intensity forward week in week out. We had some outstanding performances today from many players, personified I think by Barber Starkey and Fiern who were relentless.'