South hang on to record a draw in the "battle" of Fengate.

South hang on to take a share of the spoils.

South travelled to the allegedly “Fortress Fengate” home of Peterborough RFC in this latest National League 3 Midlands fixture. Although the pack has generally remained constant over the last few weeks the team welcomed back Mark Bayley while Steve Martin came into the backs for the unavailable Gaz Nicholson.

South started the game at a cracking pace forcing the home team to defend desperately as they used both the wind and the slope to good effect. The trademark rolling maul made an early appearance and after concerted attacks Dom Green was driven over by his team-mates to open the try scoring easily converted by Mark Lord. South were in complete ascendency, but were probably guilty of not pressing home that advantage as Peterborough broke upfield to very nearly open their scoring account. A desperate tap tackle from Lord on his own line forced the Peterborough attacker to knock on with the line at his mercy. They did, however, score their first try soon after, with a wobbly conversion to tie the scores.
A yellow card for Peterborough lock Andrijauskas gave Lord the chance to keep the South score board ticking over with a long range penalty. He succeeded and added two more excellent long range efforts as the home teams discipline wilted.

At half time South held a healthy 16 points to 7 lead which would need defending against the conditions and a fired up home team.

Then the fun and games started as Peterborough systematically went about trying to disrupt South by fair or more often foul means in order to gain some credence in front of their supporters. As usual they verbally tried to influence the referees decision making although they were rocked on their heels as Lord converted another penalty drilled hard and low against the wind to take South further ahead. From that point on South were on the end of many cheap shots that meant the removal from the game with injury of both Ben Antill and Mark Bayley. Wes Cartwright was treated for a facial blood injury, but collectively South didn’t take a backward step and fought fire with fire under considerable duress.
Peterbrough added their second try which went unconverted, while Lord added another penalty to move the score to 22-12 still in South’s favour. Peterborough added their third unconverted try to narrow the score on the hour then Tom Armstrong was sin binned and missed the last ten minutes of the game. South were now completely under the cosh with a man down as the aforementioned Andrijauskas went over for the equalising try.
Low had the chance to win the game for the home side, but his conversion hit a post and bounced out. Injury time was played out with neither side scoring again.
Unfortunately the referee failed to penalise the home teams rough house tactics throughout the game and they were allowed to get away with many examples of over zealous play.
I suppose justice was done in the end that the dubious approach of the home side didn’t result in a victory, but the galling fact remains that although South added two points to the cause Peterborough gained three for scoring four tries.

It was probably the most ill tempered and over physical game that South have been involved in this season, having a completely different complexion from the fine corresponding game from earlier in the season.

Team: Clarke, Martin, Childs, Armstrong, Cartwright, Lord, McFedries, Bale C, Mark C, March ©, Bale S, Antill (King H), Bayley (King L), Green, Jones.

Man of the Match: Matt Clarke for a masterly display at full back.