Slow start costly for Pethy

23rd January 2010 - Tribute Western Counties West: North Petherton 7 v 23 Wadebridge Camels

Report by Lloyd Williams

Pethy got off to the worst possible start, they found themselves down 20 points after 20 minutes, most of them coming in the first 10. The visitors from the outset were determined to attack fast and from everywhere. They scored two tries, both converted and two penalties before Pethy had any sort of possession. The first try came from a couple of missed tackles as the visitors threw the ball wide fast, the second came from a poor pass which was intercepted.

When Pethy finally got their hands on the ball they began to get some level of control on the game. Also in defence they began to realise that if they over committed to the breakdown the likely result was an out numbered backline for the visitors to attack. As they normally had one or two of their strong running forwards in the backline.

With 10mins of the half left Pethy had good field position, which came after a long penalty kick to the corner. After several more penalties, which then were taken as scrums, Pethy seemed to have crossed the line with Matt Brown crashing over to score. Unfortunately for  the second week running Pethy were at the end of a poor decision. The resulting scrum saw Brown go close again, but this time it was not so clear as there was a mass of bodies over the ball.

Just before half time James Carter crashed his way over for the score, it was an easy conversion for Tom Williams.

H/T 7 – 20

The second half was generally uneventful. Both teams had their opportunities. After 10 minutes Pethy had the opportunity to get the first score of the half, but Tom Williams missed the penalty. The visitors had several long range shots at goal but with limited success, slotting just 1 out of 3 attempts.

Substitutions were made by both teams, this combined with injuries made for a stop start second period. It wasn’t until the last 15-20 that Pethy really showed they're worth and looked a dangerous force, but the scores didn’t come even though they got very close on several occasions.
Simon Ranson replaced injured Kyle Prescott, but was very quickly yellow carded for offside at the breakdown. This meant Prescott had to return at the next scrum, replacing Matt Brown. But luckily the visitors' open side was binned shortly after, to the cheer of the home crowd, as he had played on the edge all afternoon, disrupting, slowing and often stealing possession from Pethy.

Pethy took some positives from the game in that they won 60 of the 80 minutes, going up the slope for most of it. But the first 20 cost them the game!

Flankers Tarr and Taylor tackled throughout the game, Taylor having to be replaced after too many knocks to the head. But generally everyone did they’re bit, but in the end the class of Wadebridge in the first 20 was the difference in the two teams.

Must win game away to Bude this week.

Team:
1. Matt Angel
2. Sam Williams
3. Kyle Prescott          (Simon Ranson – 50mins / Yellow Card 60 – 70mins)
4. Jamie Cox               (James Lees – 70mins)
5. George Pettingell
6. Ben Tarr                 
7. Mike Taylor             (Simon Gingell – 45mins)
8. Matt Brown
9. Matt Ranson
10. Lloyd Williams (Capt)
11. Jamie Adams
12. Dave Hallaran
13. James Carter         
14. Craig Goodwin
15. Tom Williams