Petherton start the league season with emphatic victory

09/09/06 - Somerset One: North Petherton 43 v 12 Old Culverhaysians

North Petherton’s hard work in pre-season paid off on Saturday as they romped to victory over newly relegated Old Culverhaysians. In what was an excellent team performance, the hosts dominated from the start, playing good running rugby throughout the match and scoring seven tries in the process.

Playing up the slope in the first half, new prop Harley Brown helped Petherton gain the upper hand in the scrums against a bigger pack, but it was 20 minutes into the game before they made the breakthrough, when winger Bradley Archer raced over following some good rucking and mauling by the forwards. Tom Williams converted the try and then scored one himself soon after, finishing well following a good move by the backs.

The conversion was missed, but Pethy were soon back in their opponent’s half, applying sustained pressure on the Culverhaysians try-line with some excellent rucking and mauling. As the defence was sucked into the corner, the ball was spun out to powerful flanker Matt Brown who smashed through the remaining defenders for a simple touch-down. The conversion was missed again leaving the score 17-nil to the home side at the break.

Culverhaysians started the second half with renewed purpose and started to gain momentum through their forwards, setting up a number of rolling mauls as they edged towards the try-line, eventually forcing their way over in the corner. Their fly-half then made an excellent conversion to bring them back into the game. However, this was shortlived as Petherton soon established an unassailable lead thanks to more good running and handling between forwards and backs, resulting in four more tries for the home side.
 
Matt Brown was on hand to crash over the line twice more to complete his hat-trick following good work by the rest of the forwards, who had begun to turnover the tiring Culverhaysians scrum at will. James Lees then marked his first league match as captain, finishing off a counter-attacking move begun in the Petherton half and involving several pairs of hands passing out of the tackle before Lees applied the finishing touch under the posts.

Petherton’s last try was rather more fortunate as a defensive mistake allowed centre Chris Burge to fall on the ball over the try-line after the bounce wrong-footed the covering defenders. Tom Williams added three more conversions for a personal haul of 13 points.

Culverhaysians were able to score a further consolation try, again through their forwards, after a good back-row move from a five-metre scrum allowed their No.8 to barrel over the line from close range.

In what was a very encouraging result, in which the improvement in the side’s fitness from last season was evident, Lloyd Williams orchestrated things well from fly-half whilst centre Rob Havill impressed on his league debut for the club. North Petherton will be hoping to use this performance as a benchmark for the rest of the season.

Tries: M.Brown (3), Archer, T.Williams, Lees, C.Burge

Cons: T.Williams (4)

Pens:

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. T.Williams, 14. B.Williams, 13. C.Burge, 12. Havill, 11. B.Williams, 10. L.Williams, 9. Ryburuk, 1. H.Brown, 2. McNeillie, 3. Newton (rep. Glanville), 4. Gingell, 5. Doyle, 6. M.Brown, 7. Finlayson, 8. Lees. Reps (unused): Potter, Frost.