What a difference a week makes! This local derby was always going to be a hard fought battle between two teams who try and play a similar style of game. Pethy won the toss and as usual decided to play up the pitch.

The visitors started strong and made it hard for Pethy to get out of their half, but eventually, after absorbing a lot of pressure, Pethy got their hands on the ball. Powerful charges by the forwards began to produce quick ball for the backs, and after Russ Williams and Matt Foad had crashed it up a couple of times, the gaps opened allowing Lloyd Williams to dummy his way through. With both Ben and Tom Williams in support it looked a certain try, but as Lloyd drew the last man and passed to Tom, he was pulled back off the ball. Unfortunately the ref didn’t spot the infringement.

Shortly after that attack, Pethy were awarded a penalty which Tom Williams kicked from a tight angle on the 22m line. The visitors then took control of possession and attacked through their backs. Pethy's backs soon realised that if they drifted, communicated well and made their tackles, they could deal with the Wivvey attacks.

The boot of Wiveliscombe's captain proved a good way for the visitors to gain ground as his kicks were well chased which put pressure on the home defence. The Pethy scrum was solid though, and they were driving the opposition backwards. The lineout was more of a lottery, with Wivvey having a couple of tall and lightweight jumpers who made it hard for Pethy to consistently win their throw-in.

Having contained wave after wave of attack, Pethy were confident in their defence until midway through the first half. The Wiveliscombe pack got a good drive going and gained good field position inside the Pethy half, setting up some quick ball that was spread along their backline. A tackle was missed on the Wivvey full-back near the touch line allowing him through,and although Matt Foad was on hand to bring him down, the ball was off loaded well to a supporting runner and a try was scored. It was then converted to put the visitors 7-3 in front.

The rest of the half then beloged to Pethy, and they soon retook the lead with a great team try. The forwards began by making big yards up the slope though some good off-loading in the tackle to keep the attack moving. Quick ruck ball was set up close to the right touchline on the visitors 22, and it was spread wide to centre Foad, who rounded two defenders before passing to supporting No.8 Matt Brown who scored in the corner. Tom Williams was unable to convert from the touchline.

The next try came from similarly good interplay between the forwards, this time down the left, and more quick ball was spread wide to full-back Tom Williams who hit the line at pace and ran it in from just outside the visitors 22 metre line. Tom then landed the conversion to give Pethy a 15-7 lead at the break.

The second half became a scrappy affair, with neither team getting good possession. However, Pethy were camped in the opposition half for much of the time. The forwards continued their good interplay from the first-half, and it was proving hard for the opposition to stop. The penalty count for both teams escalated and the standard of the game dropped, and by midway through the half Tom Williams saw two long range penalty attempts go wide, and one from close range that was good.

After that, the visitors began to try their luck and ran the ball from deep and took several quick tap-penalties. Pethy’s defence held well and kept them deep in their half. On 65 minutes Pethy centre Russ Williams went off injured, and was replaced by Colt Steve Potter, with Stuart Pearn moving into the centre from the wing.

Soon after Pethy got close to the Wiveliscombe line though a penalty kick to the corner, and several phases of drives by both forwards and backs. Pete Kingston went on a drive but was just brought down inches from the line. Wivvey managed to clear their lines but the pressure was quickly put back on them by the forwards through yet another great passage of play. More quick ball was sent out to Lloyd Williams, who carried the ball up to the gain-line and popped it to Stuart Pearn who hit a gap at pace from 30 meters out and was through. With the full-back out of position it looked as if he was going to score, but he was brought down a metre short. However, supporting players arrived quickly to the ensuing ruck and quick hands resulted in young Potter diving over in the corner for his first try for Petherton. Tom was unable to convert.

The visitors did get close to the Pethy line again near to the end of the game, but solid and aggressive defence drove them back as Pethy held for a final score of 23-7.

All the forwards were outstanding in the scrums and when they had ball in hand. Blind-side Steve Doyle was always present near the action and stole huge amounts of ball. Open-side Keith Robinson tackled all day, and No.8 Matt Brown also made his presence known in defence and with some strong ball carrying in attack. The second rows of Simon Gingell and James Lees were also outstanding, mostly in attack, where their slick hands and interplay started and continued many rampaging forward attacks.

The backs defended well and made good use of the quick ball that the forwards supplied them with throughout. Russ Williams and Matt Foad are forming a useful centre partnership, forming a wall in defence and recycling the ball well in attack.

The Tor Somerset Cup game has been re-arranged to this week after it was postponed due to the pitch condition last week. This weekend Pethy travel to an in form Burnham side, who have only lost the one league game this season.

H/T: 15-7

Tries: M.Brown, T.Williams, Potter

Cons: T.Williams

Pens: T.Williams (2)

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. T.Williams, 14. B.Williams, 13. R.Williams (Rep. Potter, 55), 12. Foad, 11. S.Pearn, 10. L.Williams, 9. Rybaruk, 1. Kingston, 2. Glanville (Rep. Long, 60), 3. Webber, 4. Lees, 5. Gingell, 6. Doyle, 7. Robinson, 8. M.Brown.