'Field overcame a sluggish start to see off Alton in a pulsating local derby at Penns Place.

Scrappy, error-ridden and occasionally ill-tempered, maybe, but utterly enthralling.

It was desperately close but Harry Green's 73rd-minute try was enough to secure a wafer-thin Petersfield victory at Penns Place in a game in which the lead changed hands six times and the intensity never relented. There was simply nothing to choose between these two sides.

All the pre-match talk centred around the work-enforced absence of 'Field's svengali and points machine Andy Barnes. Truth is, Barnes probably would not have made a jot of difference: chalk this one up to the forwards, whose unity of purpose and resilience pointed 'Field to victory.

First among equals was skipper Ian Palmer, a colossal figure for 'Field at number eight who carried and tackled tirelessly and constantly hoovered up the messier scraps around the fringes. Kudos too to stand-off James Flett, who ghosted around the park to good effect, although in the final analysis his relieving boot was equally as effective as his undoubted running skills.

Indeed, the calmness under pressure and all-round efficiency of Flett and half-back partner James Martin were priceless in the heat of the derby battle.

But it was the introduction of replacement prop Nick Todd shortly after half time that changed the complexion of the forward battle as 'Field, who struggled in the set-pieces in the opening 40 minutes, took something of a stranglehold at the scrum in the second half.

For Alton, skipper Jimmy Gay and Shane Watts were warriors in red and black and on the few occasions they did find themselves in attacking positions, wing Andrew Hullock and the excellent Gareth Richards always looked capable of pulling the odd rabbit out of a hat.

Richards, in particular, was criminally underemployed and although Christo Arundel had more than a decent game at stand-off, Alton's backs simply did not have enough to work with in the second half.  

Overall, Alton lacked 'Field's composure and they turned on maximum power only sporadically.

Most of their positives came in the opening half-hour. Sharp and confident at the outset, despite falling behind to Flett's early penalty, they turned 'Field over three times in the opening ten minutes and initially seemed to be able to shunt the home scrum back at will.

However, as the game wore on, Alton's evident superiority at the scrum began to wane and suddenly it was they who were under the cosh. The mountainous figure of Todd can claim much credit for that but - say it quietly - Alton's forwards looked off the pace and lacking in match fitness.

Moreover, with Martin constantly harrying opposite number Mark Crowther to great effect at the base of the scrum, Alton struggled to obtain a smooth path between nine and ten. Thus, with a lack of quality possession, Alton lacked an attacking platform.

It was the Richards-Hullock combination that created the game's opening try when Alton won good line-out ball off the top, Richards charged through a yawning gap in 'Field's midfield and floated a long pass to Hullock, who was untouchable from 20 metres.

But the failings of Alton's first-up tacklers, who frequently failed to snuff out 'Field attacks at source, cost them dearly as they coughed up a try four minutes before half time.

Centre Dan Townson was the creator and the scorer, taking a pass from near halfway, bouncing off a couple of tackles and sprinting fully 50 yards for a quite superb individual score.

There were grumblings from the Alton contingent that the pass to Townson was forward but there was no doubting the quality of the finish.

Additionally, there was no doubting the quality of referee Jeff Highcock, who had an excellent game.

Eight-all at the break, the game spluttered and juddered in the opening minutes of the second half as both sides struggled to find their rhythm.

Hullock added two more penalties and Flett replied with his second goal but 'Field nosed ahead for the first time with an opportunist score from flanker Adam Marshall.

'Field sent the ball wide to Saunders on the left and Marshall simply scooped up a loose ball from the ensuing ruck, sneaked through a blind-side gap and ran in unopposed from 20 metres.

But Alton rallied immediately and led 21-18 after Steven Osborne touched down following a line-out and driving maul.

'Field were not to be denied, however, and the decisive score came after a Flett break and off-load to Palmer took them deep into Alton territory. The ball was spread along midfield to Green, who popped up the left wing and skinned the outside cover to score with a flourish.

Alton might've nicked the game in the dying seconds when they were awarded two five-metre scrums but their attempts to set up a drop-goal position came to nought as 'Field turned them over and booted the ball dead to claim a priceless win.

Petersfield: B Martin; Green, Townson, Eldridge, Saunders; Flett, J Martin; Nicholls, (Todd, 51); Brookes, Bragg; Crane, Marshall, Palmer (c).

Tries; Townson (35), Marshall (62), Green (73);
Conversion: Flett
Penalties: Flett (2, 52)

Alton: Forsyth (Salmon, 52); O'Connor, Hemmens, Richards, Hullock; Arundel, Crowther; Happel, Gay (c), Ovens; Greenhalgh, Osborne; Watts, Parratt (Carter, 65), Ford.

Tries: Hullock (17), Osborne (69);
Conversion: Hullock;
Penalties: Hullock (11, 43, 55).

Scoring: 3-0 (Flett pen); 3-3 (Hullock pen); 3-8 (Hullock try); 8-8 (Townson try); 8-11 (Hullock pen); 11-11 (Flett pen); 11-14 (Hullock pen); 18-14 (Marshall try, Flett con); 18-21 (Osborne try, Hullock con); 23-21 (Green try).

H-T: 8-8.

Referee: Jeff Highcock (Hampshire Society).

* Alton captain Jimmy Gay was disappointed with defeat but paid tribute to Petersfield, in particular replacement prop Nick Todd.

"We were well on top in the scrums in the first half but when Nick came on he made a huge difference. I am not sure what he did but he managed to put our front row under huge pressure. There was no power on the right side of our scrum and we struggling to control the ball at the back.

"A few of our players were out on their feet in the second half and that is something we have to sort out. Brian (Saunders, Alton's head coach) told us  at the end that if we are going to succeed at this level, our fitness has to improve.

"We took too many wrong options and would have been better giving more ball to the backs because whenever Gareth (Richards) had the ball, he did something with it. As it was, I don't think Matt (wing Matt O'Connor) touched the ball all day."

Defeat at Penns Place and other London 3 results have left Alton just above the two relegation places and with a resurgent Winchester visiting Anstey Park this Saturday (2pm kick-off), Gay knows his side will have to up their game a notch or two.

The visitors have an industrial-sized, experienced pack of forwards who will test Alton's young side to the limit but if they can establish some sort of platform, then victory is achievable.

Other London 3 SW results: