Petherton secure important victory

23/09/06 - Somerset One: North Petherton 16 v 7 Wiveliscombe

Report from the Bridgwater Mercury

Three penalty goals by full-back Tom Williams earned Petherton victory on Saturday and maintained their 100% start to the league season.

With the referee being assessed, it was a stop-start match in which the home side were rarely able to develop their fluid, running rugby. Williams landed his first penalty in the opening minutes.

Straight from the restart after the penalty, Petherton drove the ball up field and from a resulting scrum, wing Bradley Archer chipped the ball over the defence and caught his own kick to score. Williams converted and added another penalty to give the home side a 13-0 half time lead.

With a strong wind blowing across the field, play became very scrappy. Wivey were able to gain territory deep in the Petherton half through a succession of penalties and scored a converted try from a well-crafted penalty move in the home 22 to bring themselves back into the game. However, another Williams penalty clinched victory.

Whereas the visitors hardly looked like scoring, Pethy made some good opportunities but failed to take them. Russell Williams was their man of the match, while the tackling of his centre partner Rob Havill was outstanding. The whole pack also played well.

Tries: Archer

Cons: T.Williams

Pens: T.Williams (3)

Drop Goals:

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