NPRFC - 1st XV vs Kingsbridge

North Petherton lined up at top of the table and unbeaten Kingsbridge for the pre-start Remembrance Day one minutes silence with forced changes, yet again. Talisman Tom Williams out (quad strain), tenacious tackler Mike Taylor out (leg injury) and utility forward James Lees (unavailable to travel), but they were boosted by the return from suspension of the direct running and hard tackling prop Matt Angel.

The cross-field slope Kingsbridge's High House ground, most akin to Minehead Barbarians pitch, was to prove difficult for the visitors to adapt to and the scoring started early at 2mins with Pethy forwards caught off-side at a maul and the home side took the lead 3 -0, but the scores were level at 6mins (3-3) with a well taken penalty by capt, Lloyd Williams, playing this week at centre.

Things were pretty even, with both sides sizing each other up until the 21st minute when Pethy were caught off-guard by King's best player at scrum half Tristan Couch, a deftly taken short penalty move to score a try, taking the score to 8-3.

This seemed to rally the Somerset side and a good touchline kick saw them attacking the home side’s try-line. Desperately defending their line, the home side went off-side and Petherton capt, Lloyd Williams stepped-up to take the score to 8-6. Shortly after, Pethy were amazed to see their new and promising 2nd row, Jamie Cox, sin-binned for the line-out infringement of interference with the jumper, but from the touch-line it seemed that his "lifters" had dropped him, score (11-6).

This incident only served to spur Pethy's seven remaining forwards on hitting a rich vein of form in which they dominated in the tight and the loose and lead to a well worked try for Matt Angel, taking the score to 11 all with half-time approaching. Unfortunately Pethy relaxed their pressure and poor defence saw Kingsbridge’s centre score a soft try to take the half time score to 18-11 to the home side.

The second half started badly for North Petherton with another poorly defended try, this time on the blind-side, which was converted to make the score 25-11. Adam Modrzynski came on for the tiring Mike Coles at prop and then Pethy lost their power-house No 8, Matt Brown, (yellow card) for an off-the-ball incident which also saw a Kingsbridge’s player sin-binned who unfortunately was not involved, but this did highlight the inexperience of visiting Ref Mr Tatum from Eastern Counties RS, who was struggling to officiate at this level.

Again, with a man down, the Pethy pack rallied and after a good touch kick and line-out, tremendous scrumaging saw them take control, but a kickable penalty was fluffed by Williams and Pethy failed to keep the score ticking over.

With the Pethy side fully restored and dominating in the scrum and an ever improving line-out, Pethy's pack were on the rampage, however slow distribution from the base of the ruck did not make the best use of their possession; however they were rewarded with a closely worked try, this time by Matt Brown, the difficult conversion was missed and the score was 25-16. Lapses in concentration let Kingsbridge back in and an uncontested try and conversion put the home-side in an unassailable position, which was increased to 35-16 with a penalty at the final whistle.

This week Pethy showed great improvements in the scrum and in the line out and in their overall confidence away from home, although lapses in concentration lost them this match. Let us hope that, when they finally get a settled side, they can play with the flair, aggression and imagination that individually they undoubtedly have.

HT: 18-11

Tries: Angel, M.Brown

Cons:

Pens: L.Williams (2)

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. Adams, 14. Tracey, 13. C.Burge, 12. L.Williams, 11. Goodwin, 10. Hallaran, 9. M.Ranson, 1. Angel, 2. S.Williams, 3. Coles (Rep. Modrzynski, 60), 4. Cox, 5. Gingell, 6. Pettingell, 7. Tarr, 8. M.Brown. Reps (Unused): B.Williams, Dicker.

		Pethy beaten by league leaders 07/11/09 - Tribute Western Counties West: Kingsbridge 35 v 16 North Petherton Report by Jerry Upfield North Petherton lined up at top of the table and unbeaten Kingsbridge for the pre-start Remembrance Day one minutes silence with forced changes, yet again. Talisman Tom Williams out (quad strain), tenacious tackler Mike Taylor out (leg injury) and utility forward James Lees (unavailable to travel), but they were boosted by the return from suspension of the direct running and hard tackling prop Matt Angel. The cross-field slope Kingsbridge's High House ground, most akin to Minehead Barbarians pitch, was to prove difficult for the visitors to adapt to and the scoring started early at 2mins with Pethy forwards caught off-side at a maul and the home side took the lead 3 -0, but the scores were level at 6mins (3-3) with a well taken penalty by capt, Lloyd Williams, playing this week at centre. Things were pretty even, with both sides sizing each other up until the 21st minute when Pethy were caught off-guard by King's best player at scrum half Tristan Couch, a deftly taken short penalty move to score a try, taking the score to 8-3. This seemed to rally the Somerset side and a good touchline kick saw them attacking the home side’s try-line. Desperately defending their line, the home side went off-side and Petherton capt, Lloyd Williams stepped-up to take the score to 8-6. Shortly after, Pethy were amazed to see their new and promising 2nd row, Jamie Cox, sin-binned for the line-out infringement of interference with the jumper, but from the touch-line it seemed that his "lifters" had dropped him, score (11-6). This incident only served to spur Pethy's seven remaining forwards on hitting a rich vein of form in which they dominated in the tight and the loose and lead to a well worked try for Matt Angel, taking the score to 11 all with half-time approaching. Unfortunately Pethy relaxed their pressure and poor defence saw Kingsbridge’s centre score a soft try to take the half time score to 18-11 to the home side. The second half started badly for North Petherton with another poorly defended try, this time on the blind-side, which was converted to make the score 25-11. Adam Modrzynski came on for the tiring Mike Coles at prop and then Pethy lost their power-house No 8, Matt Brown, (yellow card) for an off-the-ball incident which also saw a Kingsbridge’s player sin-binned who unfortunately was not involved, but this did highlight the inexperience of visiting Ref Mr Tatum from Eastern Counties RS, who was struggling to officiate at this level. Again, with a man down, the Pethy pack rallied and after a good touch kick and line-out, tremendous scrumaging saw them take control, but a kickable penalty was fluffed by Williams and Pethy failed to keep the score ticking over. With the Pethy side fully restored and dominating in the scrum and an ever improving line-out, Pethy's pack were on the rampage, however slow distribution from the base of the ruck did not make the best use of their possession; however they were rewarded with a closely worked try, this time by Matt Brown, the difficult conversion was missed and the score was 25-16. Lapses in concentration let Kingsbridge back in and an uncontested try and conversion put the home-side in an unassailable position, which was increased to 35-16 with a penalty at the final whistle. This week Pethy showed great improvements in the scrum and in the line out and in their overall confidence away from home, although lapses in concentration lost them this match. Let us hope that, when they finally get a settled side, they can play with the flair, aggression and imagination that individually they undoubtedly have. HT: 18-11 Tries: Angel, M.Brown Cons: Pens: L.Williams (2) Drop Goals: Team: 15. Adams, 14. Tracey, 13. C.Burge, 12. L.Williams, 11. Goodwin, 10. Hallaran, 9. M.Ranson, 1. Angel, 2. S.Williams, 3. Coles (Rep. Modrzynski, 60), 4. Cox, 5. Gingell, 6. Pettingell, 7. Tarr, 8. M.Brown. Reps (Unused): B.Williams, Dicker.

		©2009 North Petherton RFC

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