North Petherton upset Tor to go through to Round Two

27/11/07 - Somerset Vase Round 1: North Petherton 34 v 0 Tor

North Petherton continued from where they had left off against Wiveliscombe on Saturday with another good team performance as they advanced to round 2 of the Somerset Vase on Tuesday night. Playing against a side from the league above them, Petherton never let Tor into the game. The Pethy defence was resolute throughout and they attacked the breakdown with sustained aggression, often providing quick ball for Petherton's backs to attack with pace.

The visitors kicked-off playing down the slope but Pethy were soon inside the Tor 22 and pressurising their lineout and scrum as they kept them inside their own half for the opening 20 minutes. This resulted in Tor giving away a penalty after 10 minutes in front of the posts, which Tom Williams duly slotted over for 3-0.

Petherton were soon back in the Tor half thanks to some good kicking out of hand by Lloyd Williams and Sam Hoare. From a lineout move the Petherton pack rumbled into the 22 and quick ball out to the backs saw Centre Sam Hoare hit a great line at pace and he burst through the Tor defence to score under the posts. Tom Williams easily converted.

Tor then upped their game for the rest of the half, spending much of it inside the Pethy 22 and using their larger forwards to try and bust through the Petherton defence. When they shipped the ball wide a combination of great defence and a couple of poor passes allowed Pethy to keep them out. Near the stroke of half-time Petherton again attacked with pace as they quickly made their way deep into the Tor half. Quick support from the forwards again allowed swift service to the backs, and good hands along the backline put Tom Williams into space and he showed his pace to run clear and score to the left of the posts. However, he failed to convert his own try and Pethy went into half-time 15-nil up.

Once more Tor tried to force their way back into the game after half-time but they were again frustrated by a determined Petherton defence. Both sides missed a penalty attempt in the first 10 minutes of the half and the next score was always going to be crucial. This time it was the turn of the Petherton forwards to show their good hands, and a swift move up the left-hand side of the pitch involving forwards and backs released powerful flanker Matt Brown. He made a great break before being hauled down inside the Tor 22, but not before he was able to off-load the ball to fellow flanker Keith Robinson who burst onto the ball at pace to crash over the line. Tom Williams converted and the match was effectively over.

Petherton were now playing with great confidence and were almost trying too hard, making a few mistakes during the last 20 minutes as they went searching for further tries. The scores eventually came in the last 10 minutes, firstly through replacement lock Wayne Pither. Pither has been in great try-scoring form for Pethy Seconds this season and when he picked the loose ball up from an untidy ruck 15 meters out from the Tor try-line, there was only going to be one outcome. With the Tor defence stretched, he smashed through a big hole to score. Williams missed with the conversion.

As both sides made several changes towards the end, the match became a little disjointed before it was finished off in style by Tom Williams, who danced his way through some demoralised defence for an excellent individual score. Collecting the ball from a clearance kick near the left-hand touchline on the edge of the Tor 22, Williams sidestepped several tacklers as he made his way to the line. He again failed to convert his own try.

It is difficult to single any players out from what was a second excellent team performance in a row. However, in the pack Simon Gingell was particularly immense in what was a great display by the forwards, whilst Tom Williams again attacked and defended with pace and aggression. This was Pethy's first victory over higher level opposition in a competitive match for four years, and they will be hoping to take great confidence from their last two performances into their vital local derby at Burnham on Saturday.

H/T: 15-0

Tries: Hoare, T.Williams (2), Robinson, Pither

Cons: T.Williams (3)

Pens: T.Williams

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. T.Williams, 14. B.Williams (Rep. Lloyd Steward, 75), 13. Foad, 12. Hoare, 11. Potter (Rep. Wand, 70), 10. L.Williams, 9. Rybaruk, 1. M.Burge (Rep. A.Williams, 75), 2. Long, 3. Webber (Rep. Kearle, 70), 4. Harvey (Rep. Pither, 65), 5. Gingell, 6. M.Brown, 7. Robinson, 8. Lees.