Great second-half gains 2 points and progress in the Somerset Vase

20/09/08 - Tribute Somerset Premier: North Petherton 32 v 21 Stothert & Pitt

Report by Gavin Hancock

With the attendance boosted by Bridgwater and Albion 2nd and 3rd teams, whose matches were cancelled, North Petherton came from behind in the first half to notch up their first win of the season in the Somerset Premier. With Petherton also being drawn at home to Stothert in the first round of the Somerset Vase, the clubs agreed that this result would also count for that competition as well so that neither side would have to play twice on the same weekend.

Petherton started slow but had the first chance of scoring points when the fine young full-back Tom Williams had a penalty sail just wide from 35 yards and on the touchline. Petherton then switched off for the next 15 minutes giving away quite a few penalties, in which the away team captain and scrum half slotted a well taken penalty from 30 yards.

A fine take from the restart from Kyle ‘bob’ Prescott set up the beefy Matt Brown for the first of his bullocking runs at the Stothert defence. Petherton then gave away another penalty and from the lineout, Pethy yet again gave away a penalty, which the scrum half took quickly, and poor defence let Stothert in for their first try and the scrum half slotted the easy conversion.

Petherton needed to up their game and indeed did so when home captain Lloyd Williams broke through the Stothert defence and off loaded to Sam Williams. Good hands then from Prescott, Brown, and Lloyd Williams again set up winger Ben Williams who dropped what would have been a contender for try of the season. Sam Williams won the following scrum against the head and quick ball from the ensuing ruck set up James Lees who passed out the tackle for Brown to score in the corner, Tom Williams missed the conversion.

With not long left in the first half Petherton lost a player to the sin bin, when Ben Tarr was given a yellow card for hands in the ruck. With 14 men on the pitch the home side continued to give away penalties and after missing an attempt the away team captain slotted one through the posts to give his team a 5-13 lead at the break.

Petherton gave away 10 penalties in the first half and needed to significantly drop this number to have any chance of getting anything out of this match. At half time, Adam Harvey, an experienced flanker, playing centre, was replaced due to pulling a hamstring, Chris Burge went back to his normal position of centre, Keith Robinson went to wing and Mike Taylor came on to play open side flanker.

Petherton started the 2nd half very well and after 5 minutes a great flowing move through the centres set hooker Sam Williams on a run and an audacious dummy fooled the defender and he drew the full back to pass to Ben Williams who this time caught it cleanly and ran 15 yards to score a great team try to the delight of Kev Rybaruk who enjoyed the chance of getting his breath back, Tom Williams missed the conversion, 10-13.

Petherton had the momentum and kept pushing on with good running from Brown and Prescott who was playing out of his skin (and there’s a lot of it). Skipper Williams went through a gap in their defence and passed out a tackle to Prescott who sprinted to the line and was stopped just short. The defence flopped over the top to give away a penalty which Tarr took quickly and caught the defence half asleep to score, which Tom Williams converted for 17-13.

Pethy, with the lead for the first time in the match, soon gave away a penalty which was kicked to bring the game to just 1 point at 17-16, Tom Williams returned the gap to 4 points when he slotted a penalty from the oppositions 10 yard line to make the game 20-16 but Pethy needed another score. From the restart Prescott caught well and fed Brown who ran at the Stothert fly half and knocked him almost into next week!! Good lines of running from player coach Matt Foad and the solid Tom Williams put Lloyd Williams through a gap who passed to Sam Williams then onto Kyle Prescott who raced down the wing at great speed to score in the corner, for a try most wingers would be proud of. Tom Williams' conversion attempt went just wide, 25-16.

Pethy were full of confidence now and were spinning the ball from touchline to touchline with backs and forwards both getting involved, Pethy again got quick ball and span the ball to Prescott and replacement Mike Taylor who got stopped just short and from the ruck Ben Tarr dived over to score their fifth and final try that Tom Williams converted to put the score at 32-16 with only 5 minutes of the match left.

Pethy had to withhold pressure on their line and after a few tap penalties the Stothert prop crossed for his second try of the game which was unconverted, the score stayed at 32-21. Pethy won against a team that had done well the season before, and if North Petherton carry on playing the way they did in the second half they have got a chance of a high finish in their first season back in Somerset premier.

Several new signings have strengthened the Petherton squad and they can look forward to a good season. This weekend Petherton travel to Wells who they played last season in the Somerset Vase, and lost heavily. But Wells shouldn’t underestimate Pethy as they were short of backs that day and following this result they should go into the match full of confidence.

H/T: 5-13

Tries: Tarr(2), M.Brown, B.Williams, Prescott

Cons: T.Williams (2)

Pens: T.Williams

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. T.Williams, 14. B.Williams, 13. A.Harvey (Rep. Taylor, 40), 12. Foad, 11. C.Burge, 10. Lloyd Williams, 9. Rybaruk, 1. Prescott, 2. S.Williams (Rep. Long, 70), 3. M.Burge, 4. Lees, 5. Coles (Rep. Gingell, 45), 6. Tarr, 7. Robinson, 8. M.Brown.