Pethy make a great start to the new season

05/09/09 - Tribute Western Counties West: North Petherton 33 v 12 Okehampton

Report by Lloyd Williams

Pethy started their Western Counties West campaign home to Okehampton which a much changed backline, but a relatively unchanged pack.

Within minutes Pethy in possession, turned great attacking position after a loss turn over, into a counter attack, combined with poor one on one tackling, the visitors scored, demonstrating a young and swift backline that if given to much space could produce trys from anywhere on the pitch. But with the

After that Pethy began to dominate up front and regained possession for long periods, on 15mins James Lees, who had an outstanding game, finished off a great team try, Tom Williams converted. This lead to an crowd pleasing passage of play and straight from the kick-off,  Matt Brown finish a move that he started as he broke from the restart, it went through several pairs of hands, with Brown hitting the line late and on a great angle, when under the posts to score, Tom Williams converted easily. The next try came only 5mins later after great interplay between the whole term, taking the ball down field, after a couple of drives around the fringes the ball was shipped wide quickly and Sam Hardy went over in the corner, it was well converted by Tom Williams.

The visitors got back into the game and began to look dangerous on the wings, and some clever kicks were causing Pethy problems. Before half time tackling machine Mike Taylor got a nasty cut to the head and was replaced by Miles McNeillie, who came on and carried on the work of Taylor.

After positive words at half time, Pethy now were playing up the hill and in a very similar start to the first half, Pethy conceded a try after a great attack. The ball was lost in a tackle and the counter attack found a half guarded blind and a length on the pitch try was scored, which was converted.

Next came a period of stale mate, both teams increased the number of penalties and the pace of the game began to slow. On 60mins Harley Brown crashed his way over from close range after another team effort. Tom Williams was unable to convert. The last 15mins of the game Pethy began guilty of conceding penalty after penalty, mainly around the middle of the pitch which was out of kicking range, however it did result in some defending deep in their own half, but as for most of the game the Pethy defence was solid, if not just a little disorganised, with different players still getting used to playing with each other.

In the backs Chris Burge had a great game on the wing especially in attack, mainly many good runs, James Carter was a vital pivot in the mid-field allowing players to run off him, he also put in some aggressive attack stopping tackles. In the forwards, already mention James Lees was on form, as were all of the forwards. Tarr and Taylor worked none stop at the break downs. Matt Angel got his hands on the ball and made inroads into the visitors defence.

With Matt and Simon Ranson, George Pettingell all unavailable for this match and the likes of Ben Long, Mike Coles and Ben Harvey yet to really get into training, good selection headaches lie ahead for the club.

Pethy make the long trip to Penryn, a bus for supporter and players is leaving the club at 9.30am.

HT: 21-5

Tries: Lees (2), M.Brown, Hardy, H.Brown

Cons: T.Williams (4)

Pens:

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. T.Williams, 14. C.Burge, 13. Carter, 12. Webber (Rep. Tracey, 65), 11. Hardy, 10. L.Williams, 9. Hallaran, 1. Prescott (Rep. H.Brown, 50), 2. S.Williams (Rep. Prescott, 65), 3. Angel, 4. Gingell, 5. Lees, 6. Tarr, 7. Taylor (Rep. McNeillie, 65), 8. M.Brown.