North Petherton were hit with a last minute injury blow, losing powerful centre Chris Burge on Saturday morning with an Achilles injury; luckily Rob Havil was on hand to step in to Burges shoes and pick up where he had left of the previous week. With Keith Robinson unavailable, big Adam Modrzynski was given his first start.

Pethy were well aware of the issues they would have travelling to a Bristol side and knew that it would be a competitive and physical match. This said they were not prepared for the start and were completely overwhelmed for the first half. Within the first minute second row James Lees received a severe blow to the head and needed to leave the field and played no further part in the match, he was replaced by flanker Adam Harvey. From the scrum to restart the match Quins attacked down the blindside and with some good inter play went over in the corner for a converted try. Within the next ten minutes Quins sustained pressure and were rewarded with a further penalty.

Pethy started to find their feet and launched an attack, from a turnover ball, down the left handside of the pitch with Lloyd Williams making the initial break, feeding Foad who went between two Quins players and into space, with little support he was tackled smartly by the opposing fullback. The ensuing contact area saw a clash of heads and Pethy lost their other second row and Quins a second row to the blood bin. Pethy were now without either of their specialist lineout jumpers and were to suffer from the restarts. The Bristol side started to turn the screw and applied pressure through some determined running from their fullback and some strong forward support, this resulted in a further two tries and a penalty before half time without reply.

The second half saw a more spirited response from North Petherton and some good positive play, despite sustained pressure the Bristol defence held firm. Pethy did not lose faith and continued to pressure the Quins try line hoping for a break through, eventually it came with a move from a lineout. Pethy won quick ball and Lennox shipped to Williams at ten, a cut back from Foad into contact, who stood up long enough to offload to Harley Brown who went in under the posts, the conversion coming from Tom Williams.

This is all that was needed to spur Pethy on, more pressure saw a try go missing as Havil was stripped over the line. Pethy countered more driving for the line from a spirited pack and backs saw Sam Williams find himself in space with the final pass finding Foad, again but this time he did not see the cover tackle and was turned over five metres out. Quins attacked and made it half way up the pitch until Pethy managed to get their hands on the ball. The Pethy back row made some good ground and finding their usual open style of rugby moved the ball from left to right and travelled into the Bristol twenty-two. Lennox recycled quick ball and fed Lloyd Williams on an arcing run who hit Foad coming in straight, who bundled over the line for Pethys second try, again converted by T. Williams.

With the score now 27-14 and ten minutes to go Pethy were in control and sensing an upset, however with a knock on shortly after the restart Quins put in a smart cross field kick for their winger, an error and they were in for their fourth try, which was neatly converted. The game swung both ways in the closing minutes and in the dying seconds Quins won a scrimmage and went in under the posts for their final converted try, the final whistle followed.

Although North Petherton rallied in the second half they need to take some hard lessons from this result. They will need to take control from the start and not allow themselves to be dominated by the opposition. The team showed some good ball skills in what was undoubtedly the most physical game of the season so far, they are more than fit enough to compete and there in no reason why this result will not be over turned and Pethy continue to enjoy a positive season. The coming weekend is a cup one and North Petherton host Somerton on Sunday.

H/T: 27-0

Tries: H.Brown, Foad

Cons: T.Williams (2)

Pens:

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. T.Williams, 14. B.Williams, 13. Havill, 12. Foad, 11. Perrin (Rep. Luke Williams, 75), 10. Lloyd Williams, 9. Lennox, 1. M.Burge, 2. S.Williams, 3. H.Brown, 4. Lees (Rep. A.Harvey, 5), 5. Modrzynski, 6. Gingell (Rep. Prescott, 12-21, 69), 7. Taylor, 8. M.Brown.