Pethy edge a tight game in the mud

10/02/07 - Somerset One: North Petherton 13 v 8 Bristol Barbarians

Report by Jim Keay, as printed in the Bridgwater Mercury

North Petherton completed the double over Barbarians on a Beggars Brook pitch that was only just playable. Surface water made play a lottery and, inevitably, the game was a forward slog.

This was a re-arranged game after the original fixture had been abandoned at half-time due to a neck injury to Petherton winger Luke Carrow, which had caused a hold-up and some of Barbarians' players had had to leave for work.

On Saturday they were without midfield playmaker Lloyd Williams, who was in Scotland for his mother's birthday. Tom Williams switched from full-back to fly-half, with Chris Burge wearing the No 15 jersey.

The visitors took the lead with a penalty goal. Five minutes later, when Petherton scrum-half Karl Jarvis was on the ground injured, receiving treatment from coach Kim O'Connor, Barbarians took a quick tap penalty and ran over the pair to score an unconverted try.

In recent matches, Petherton's driving maul has brought them several tries and it worked again when, following a line-out, they rumbled over from the Barbarians' 22 for Jarvis, who had a fine game in the mud, to touch down. Tom Williams converted, making the half-time score 7-8.

As conditions worsened in the second half, play degenerated into a succession of setpieces and mauls, with neither side looking like scoring a try. Russell Williams twisted his knee and went off injured and Matt Brown switched from flanker to centre, with Ross Finlayson making his comeback from injury as a back-row replacement.

Petherton managed to exert the greater pressure after half-time and Tom Williams landed two penalties and also missed a couple, taking Petherton to a fourth successive league victory and moving them level on points with third placed Wiveliscombe.

Next Saturday Pethy have a home local derby against in-form Burnham, who have yet to score a point against Petherton in two matches this season.

Tries: Jarvis

Cons: T.Williams

Pens: T.Williams (2)

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. C.Burge, 14. B.Williams, 13. Havill, 12. R.Williams (Rep Finlayson, 35), 11. Mantyk, 10. T.Williams, 9. Jarvis, 1. M.Burge, 2. McNeillie, 3. Webber, 4. Coles, 5. Harvey (Rep Hambley, 70), 6. Gingell, 7. M.Brown, 8. Lees. Rep Unused: Glanville.