NPRFC - 1st XV vs Old Sulians

Selection was a tough job this week and as a result, powerhouses Adam Modrzynski and Mike Coles were not in the travelling squad. Gavin Wolfe, normally a flanker was selected as backs replacement and Russ Williams returned to the starting line up in the centre, as Sam Hoare received concussion after last weeks game. Russ partnered Rob Havill, which meant Matt Foad moving to his more natural wing position.

The home side won the toss and decided to play with the elements. A damp and mudded pitch was not going to suit either team and the early style of play suggested that it was going to be a tough afternoon for both teams.

The first half was hardly end to end stuff, but both teams got close to scoring opportunities. The home side had one clean break with a great chance to score, but a great cover tackle by Matt Foad stopped a certain try and then Ben Williams halted the attack with a unuslly big tackle around the fringes. The home side did have one penalty attempt at goal by it pulled up short.

Pethy from the outset dominated upfront, with lineouts and scrums winning good ball for most of the afternoon. In the rucks and mauls the forwards also performed well, they stole a good quantity of ball, which was normally turned into quality counter attacks. Pethy’s best phases of play were counter attacks, when forwards and backs inter passed in limited space. A few of the best attacks ended in silly mistakes or needless penalties.

The closest Pethy came to a try was when Matt Angel and Sam Williams found themselves in the backline, both drew their men, releasing Lloyd Williams who took the attack deeper into the home teams half, Angel who was in close support received the ball back and went on a charging run, eventually setting up quick ball. With the fullback committed Lloyd Williams sent a chip through, and looked to be in, but a penalty was awarded as he was obstructed during his run. He elected to get some points on the board and Tom Williams easily slotted the kick.

In the last 10minutes of the half Pethy began to run the ball more and more, taking quick taps and were unlucky not to get another score, unfortunately just before the half time whistle mobile prop Kyle Prescott, who had spend most of the half in the backline, picked up a injury and had to be replaced by the straight running Harley Brown.

Pethy went to half time realising that they should have had at least a couple of scores up and determined to do better.

The second half started better and Pethy were dominating and beginning to look like scoring early, they didn’t have to wait long for their first try.

It was a well worked team effort, it started after a long range penalty kick down field, after several phases around the fringes in which the forwards made good ground, Matt Angel and Sam Williams teamed up again down the blind, this time Angel send a delightful pass to Williams, who tiptoed his way down the touchline before crashing his way back in field. Williams was hauled down, but quick ball was available and the forwards drove around the fringes again, eventually the ball was released to Lloyd Williams. He had the charging Matt Brown, Simon Gingell and Harley Brown screaming for the ball inside him, this would be a concern for any team, with the defence distracted Lloyd showed and scrambled his way through to score, Tom Williams converted.

Pethy had a great restart and got into their stride again, they put together a huge number of phases, taking play into the home teams 22m, a penalty was awarded and Tom Williams slotted another penalty. This score line now gave Pethy and the home team the incentive to push the pace of the game, both teams ran any penalties awarded and started to throw the ball wide quickly. But in doing this both sides very guilty of rushing the phases and as a result the standard of play dropped. Eventually captain Williams called up Tom Williams to have a shot of goal to get the points moving again, but in a rare miss his kick came off the post, Pethy were the quickest to react, but again rushed and the home side cleared their lines.

Pethy did get another try through powerhouse Sam Williams, who finished off a great passage of play by the forwards in which they mauled, rucked and scrummaged their way deep into the home teams 22m. Eventually Sam Williams pick up from a ruck and crashed over, taking several defenders with him. Tom was unsuccessful with the conversion. The rest of the half continued to be frantic by both teams.

Eventually the home team scored through their winger. It was a soft try, poor hands by Pethy saw the ball go lose, the winger received the ball running a pace, chipped through, Neil Lennox was first to react and seemed to have it covered, as he went to dive on the ball, he got shoved off the ball and the winger kick on and the ref awarded the try under a protest, but the conversion was missed.

Sam Williams and Matt Angel had a great afternoon with ball in hand, Angel, however will be remembered for his searching kick that went straight out by some distance, to the amusement of the travelling supporters. The backs found it tough going in the mud, and struggled to get clean and quick ball, as the home team did their very best to lie on the ball at ever opportunity. The backs did look solid in defence, with Russ Williams and Rob Havill making a wall in mid-field.

The next two games are of massive importance, firstly away to Tor and then home to Bristol Harlequins. Selection will be tough this week, with backrow Ben Tarr coming into form after returning from injury, powerhouse Mike Coles always has something to offer, Adam Modrzynski also in contention, Gavin Wolfe looked a strong runner and solid in defence when he came on the wing this week, also Bradley Archer is available. Tough decisions ahead, but a great problem for the club to have.

HT: 0-3

Tries: Lloyd Williams, S.Williams

Cons: T.Williams

Pens: T.Williams (2)

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. T.Williams, 14. B.Williams (Rep.Wolfe, 65), 13. Havill, 12. R.Williams, 11. Foad, 10. Lloyd Williams, 9. Lennox, 1. Angel, 2. S.Williams, 3. Prescott (Rep. H.Brown, 40), 4. Gingell, 5. B.Harvey (Rep. Tarr, 50), 6.M.Brown, 7. Taylor, 8. Lees.

		Pethy earn a vital victory in Bath to gain ground on their promotion rivals 31/01/09 - Tribute Somerset Premier: Old Sulians 5 v 18 North Petherton Report by Lloyd Williams Selection was a tough job this week and as a result, powerhouses Adam Modrzynski and Mike Coles were not in the travelling squad. Gavin Wolfe, normally a flanker was selected as backs replacement and Russ Williams returned to the starting line up in the centre, as Sam Hoare received concussion after last weeks game. Russ partnered Rob Havill, which meant Matt Foad moving to his more natural wing position. The home side won the toss and decided to play with the elements. A damp and mudded pitch was not going to suit either team and the early style of play suggested that it was going to be a tough afternoon for both teams. The first half was hardly end to end stuff, but both teams got close to scoring opportunities. The home side had one clean break with a great chance to score, but a great cover tackle by Matt Foad stopped a certain try and then Ben Williams halted the attack with a unuslly big tackle around the fringes. The home side did have one penalty attempt at goal by it pulled up short. Pethy from the outset dominated upfront, with lineouts and scrums winning good ball for most of the afternoon. In the rucks and mauls the forwards also performed well, they stole a good quantity of ball, which was normally turned into quality counter attacks. Pethy’s best phases of play were counter attacks, when forwards and backs inter passed in limited space. A few of the best attacks ended in silly mistakes or needless penalties. The closest Pethy came to a try was when Matt Angel and Sam Williams found themselves in the backline, both drew their men, releasing Lloyd Williams who took the attack deeper into the home teams half, Angel who was in close support received the ball back and went on a charging run, eventually setting up quick ball. With the fullback committed Lloyd Williams sent a chip through, and looked to be in, but a penalty was awarded as he was obstructed during his run. He elected to get some points on the board and Tom Williams easily slotted the kick. In the last 10minutes of the half Pethy began to run the ball more and more, taking quick taps and were unlucky not to get another score, unfortunately just before the half time whistle mobile prop Kyle Prescott, who had spend most of the half in the backline, picked up a injury and had to be replaced by the straight running Harley Brown. Pethy went to half time realising that they should have had at least a couple of scores up and determined to do better. The second half started better and Pethy were dominating and beginning to look like scoring early, they didn’t have to wait long for their first try. It was a well worked team effort, it started after a long range penalty kick down field, after several phases around the fringes in which the forwards made good ground, Matt Angel and Sam Williams teamed up again down the blind, this time Angel send a delightful pass to Williams, who tiptoed his way down the touchline before crashing his way back in field. Williams was hauled down, but quick ball was available and the forwards drove around the fringes again, eventually the ball was released to Lloyd Williams. He had the charging Matt Brown, Simon Gingell and Harley Brown screaming for the ball inside him, this would be a concern for any team, with the defence distracted Lloyd showed and scrambled his way through to score, Tom Williams converted. Pethy had a great restart and got into their stride again, they put together a huge number of phases, taking play into the home teams 22m, a penalty was awarded and Tom Williams slotted another penalty. This score line now gave Pethy and the home team the incentive to push the pace of the game, both teams ran any penalties awarded and started to throw the ball wide quickly. But in doing this both sides very guilty of rushing the phases and as a result the standard of play dropped. Eventually captain Williams called up Tom Williams to have a shot of goal to get the points moving again, but in a rare miss his kick came off the post, Pethy were the quickest to react, but again rushed and the home side cleared their lines. Pethy did get another try through powerhouse Sam Williams, who finished off a great passage of play by the forwards in which they mauled, rucked and scrummaged their way deep into the home teams 22m. Eventually Sam Williams pick up from a ruck and crashed over, taking several defenders with him. Tom was unsuccessful with the conversion. The rest of the half continued to be frantic by both teams. Eventually the home team scored through their winger. It was a soft try, poor hands by Pethy saw the ball go lose, the winger received the ball running a pace, chipped through, Neil Lennox was first to react and seemed to have it covered, as he went to dive on the ball, he got shoved off the ball and the winger kick on and the ref awarded the try under a protest, but the conversion was missed. Sam Williams and Matt Angel had a great afternoon with ball in hand, Angel, however will be remembered for his searching kick that went straight out by some distance, to the amusement of the travelling supporters. The backs found it tough going in the mud, and struggled to get clean and quick ball, as the home team did their very best to lie on the ball at ever opportunity. The backs did look solid in defence, with Russ Williams and Rob Havill making a wall in mid-field. The next two games are of massive importance, firstly away to Tor and then home to Bristol Harlequins. Selection will be tough this week, with backrow Ben Tarr coming into form after returning from injury, powerhouse Mike Coles always has something to offer, Adam Modrzynski also in contention, Gavin Wolfe looked a strong runner and solid in defence when he came on the wing this week, also Bradley Archer is available. Tough decisions ahead, but a great problem for the club to have. HT: 0-3 Tries: Lloyd Williams, S.Williams Cons: T.Williams Pens: T.Williams (2) Drop Goals: Team: 15. T.Williams, 14. B.Williams (Rep.Wolfe, 65), 13. Havill, 12. R.Williams, 11. Foad, 10. Lloyd Williams, 9. Lennox, 1. Angel, 2. S.Williams, 3. Prescott (Rep. H.Brown, 40), 4. Gingell, 5. B.Harvey (Rep. Tarr, 50), 6.M.Brown, 7. Taylor, 8. Lees.

		©2009 North Petherton RFC

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