A mild November afternoon saw a good crowd at the Pightle having completed an excellent well attended commemorative lunch for club stalwart Derek Berry guests at the lunch were Derek's wife Jenny, daughter Nicola, son Andrew and sister Sylvia.
Memories were exchanged about the memorable youth side Derek Berry put together in the late 70's early 80s that won the first youth Surrey Cup with many of that side going on to make up the core of the very successful side of the 80s. Before the game a minutes silence was held by both sides to pay respects to Derek.
The game started with a flurry of activity with the visitors drawing first blood with an early try close to the posts. The extra points were added to give Trinity a 0-7 lead. The next 10 minutes saw Trinity trying to consolidate their lead and PJF trying to ensure they got back into the game. This period finished with PJF setting up good ball and moving wide. A wide pass to winger Kwesi who turned and beat his man and ran in from about 40 metres out. A great try well taken. The kick was missed. Within a couple of minutes Trinity moved the ball wide and then moved the ball back inside where PJF were caught flat footed and a hole appeared that Trinity exploited by going in under the posts. With the extra points added Trinity were leading 5 - 14. The restart saw Trinity drive back into the PJF half and then PJF conceded another penalty that Trinity accepted gratefully and extended their lead to 5 - 17. With the first half drawing to a close Trinity gained another penalty that was unusually scuffed wide by the Trinity fly half. From the 22m restart PJF fought their way down field and created some space on the wing for Chase Thompson to go over in the corner. With the score at 10 - 17 the first half came to a close.

The second half started with PJF trying to capitalise on the momentum they had created at the end of the first half and again space was created on the PJF left wing and Kwesi accepted the invitation to rip up his wing to go over. Unfortunately the kick couldn't be converted. The score 15 - 17 with plenty of time on the clock. Trinity responded pushed PJF back into the 22 m. A clumsy lunge by try scorer Chase Thompson receive a yellow card but the referee didn't see that it warranted a penalty try so Trinity only got the penalty. From the next phases o play Trinity created another opening to extend their lead to 15 - 24. PJF were down but not out and started to create space even though they were down to 14. One particular interchange between Kwesi and captain Luke Couchman saw an off load from Kwesi to Luke perhaps harshly judged forward. Try as they might Trinity could not get out of their half. The PJF playing magnificently drove the Trinity pack backwards. One pick and go saw Phil jones brought down just short of the line but as he went down Phil stretch to place the ball over the line. Unfortunately the referee was poorly placed to see the ball placed over the line and awarded a goal line drop kick. Trinity dropped out deep to be gathered by PJF who ran the ball back into the Trinity 22m. The relentless pressure continued. PJF worked a position 2m out from the Trinity line the ball was picked up by Callum Henry, who had an immense game, and he bundled himself over the line only to be denied again by the referee who did not see the grounding. Callum, who had been frustrated all afternoon by some of the referee's more marginal decisions, eventually got the opportunity to drive over the line or a well earned score. With 10 minutes remaining PJF hammered at the Trinity line and only solid defence and some poor decisions from PJF in the final yards before the whitewash saw PJF denied. The final four minutes saw Trinity resort some old fashioned 'stuff it up your jumper' tactics and wound down the clock for the narrowest victory. PJF collected a losers bonus point and a bonus point for four tries.

PJF could be adjudged to be unlucky however, they must become more clinical in their decision making and execution, and PJF must learn that the game starts with the opening whistle of the first half and not 20 minutes into the game. For the last two games PJF have won the last 60 minutes, but are getting killed in the first 20 minutes. Secondly, the referees' decision making at the break down is inconsistent. It is a difficult area to referee, but players who place their hands on the ground over the ball are not supporting their own weight and therefore should be adjudged to be on the floor. However, where it becomes difficult for referees is where those players are not opposed and therefore there is an element of discretion the referee has to exercise. If materiality is the line where the decision rests the player who places hands on the ground over the ball must be seen as sealing off if it stops fair competition for the ball. A 'jackler', if no ruck is formed, can go in to attempt to pick the ball up. If there are no hands on the ground before the 'jackler' goes in any that occur after have got to be seen a sealing off, discuss. Perhaps a question before the game of how the referee will interpret the situation would not be misplaced?