Forward fire is decisive in local derby01/12/07 - Tribute Somerset One: Burnham-On-Sea 7 v 9 North Petherton
Pete Kingston (bald head just about visable!) turns the ball over for Pethy just as (from left) Andy Long, Matt Glanville and John Webber arrive at the ruckPhotos taken by Chris Hancock
Report by Jim Keay, from the Bridgwater MercuryThe grit and determination of the North Petherton forwards earned them this local-derby victory at Burnham on Saturday.
Burnham's former Tongan international Vunipola off-loads well here to set-up Burnham's tryHowever, Burnham would have won the game had their player-coach, former Tonga World Cup fly-half Elisi Vunipola, converted a pretty straightforward penalty eight minutes from time. He missed narrowly and also failed with another effort from 38 metres, which was the last kick of the game.
Simon Gingell is up quickly to stop this Burnham attackThe home pack could not match the fire and furious commitment of their Petherton counterparts, led magnificently by the back row of James Lees, Matt Brown and Andy Agar, a recent signing from Sidmouth who was making his debut.
Matt Foad dumps his opposite man, who managed to get the ball away just in timeOut behind, there were only a few glimpses of the brilliant handling and support play that have brought Burnham so many points this season. In the second half, when they had the strong wind behind them, they kept spilling the ball or making unlikely drop-goal attempts.
Burnham's off-loading was a constant threat to the Petherton defence throughout the matchBurnham went ahead after only three minutes when, following a penalty kick to the corner by Vunipola, the stocky fly-half made a break and slipped the ball to centre Richard "Kiwi" Muskett, who raced over. Vunipola converted.
Lloyd Williams counter-attacks and leaves a couple of Burnham tacklers behindFor the rest of the half, Petherton kicked downwind and Burnham tried to get their running game going. But they were being shoved backwards in the scrum and also conceded too many penalties, three of which Petherton full-back Tom Williams converted to put his side 9-7 in front.
James Lees picks and goes from the back of this scrumThe visitors were much the superior side at the breakdown and, as Burnham struggled in those situations, No 8 Brian Webb was sin-binned just before half time for persistent infringement.
Lees in action again, this time in the line-outA furious rainstorm midway through the second half soaked everyone, but could not dampen the visitors' spirits as, despite Vunipola often kicking shrewdly, they resisted everything Burnham threw at them. Rob Havill and Matt Foad hardly missed a tackle in the centre.
Matt Foad is hauled down with Pete Kingston and Andy Long in supportOn 71 minutes, Tim Piper looked a certain scorer for Burnham when a long pass by Vunipola gave him the chance, but he was tackled a few metres short and spilled the ball forward.
Rob Havill makes a burst before being well-tackledDrop-goal attempts by Vunipola (twice) and Piper were all miscued or off-target before Vunipola's two late penalty-goal misses presented Petherton with a victory that they deserved.
Matt Brown making some typically hard yardsSo Burnham's bogey in matches against their local rivals persisted. They lost because the conditions and their opponents' fire dragged them into the sort of dogfight that doesn't suit them. By contrast, that is exactly the sort of game Petherton relish.
H/T: 7-9
Tries:
Cons:
Pens: T.Williams (3)
Drop Goals:
Team: 15. T.Williams, 14. B.Williams, 13. Havill, 12. Foad, 11. Pearn, 10. L.Williams, 9. Ryburuk, 1. Glanville (Rep. H.Brown, 60), 2. Long, 3. Webber, 4. Kingston, 5. Gingell, 6. Agar, 7. M.Brown, 8. Lees. Rep Unused: M.Coles
Burnham: 15. Popham, 14. Pike, 13. Piper, 12. Muskett, 11. D.Welland, 10. Vunipola, 9. Whitfield, 1. Tevita, 2. Hocking, 3. Hobbs (rep Rose 72), 4.Harding, 5. R.Welland (Rep. Fear, 55), 6. McKen, 7. Blake, 8. Webb.
