Petersfield assemble top brains trust after promotion

HAMPSHIRE Premier champions Petersfield are gearing up to come flying out of the blocks when the new season starts.

Coming close to achieving the rare feat of a 100-point tally in the table with 1,000 points scored before the abandonment of the season, coaches Jason Ford and Jim Pearce are assembling a group of Hampshire’s brightest rugby minds for the step up after taking the club from relegation rebuild to title winners.

Former Wasps player and Richmond Ladies coach Vicky Alexander, and Worthing Raiders captain Liam Perkins, are set to work with the side as they prepare for life in London 3 South West.

With famous old boys such as Tim Rodber, Will Spencer and Tommy Matthews, Petersfield have a proud tradition and aim to climb the leagues.

“We are looking upwards,” assistant coach Pearce told TRP. “We are just trying to give the players the tools through all means.

“Jason and I played for 20 years. We have experience and our own methods, but it is great when we have someone like Tommy Matthews (current Northampton flyhalf) come back home to see everyone and bring something that he has been coached at Northampton.

“The big thing with us recently was getting a phone call out of the blue from Vicky Alexander, she is a Level 3 qualified coach and is mentored by Ian Davies (ex-Cornish Pirates director of rugby).

“She only lives down the road and she wanted to get involved which is great.

“You have the likes of Giselle Mathers and other women coaches getting involved with men’s teams and I think Vicky is the first female coach of a men’s team in Hampshire, which is a fantastic thing for a little market town like Petersfield of 15,000.

“Liam Perkins, the back rower from Worthing Raiders, lives behind my own house and he is looking to transition into coaching. He is also bringing along their fly-half Matt McLean.

“We have known Liam for 15 years and he has Championship and National League experience from Ealing, Newbury and Worthing.”