Seconds cruise home in derby match

24/02/07 - Somerset Three South: North Petherton II 87 v 0 Burnham-On-Sea II

Report from the Bridgwater Mercury

First team centre Rob Havill scored five tries in the first 30 minutes as North Petherton Seconds demolished their plucky Burnham counterparts for the second time this season.

With Petherton's first-team fixture at Wiveliscombe postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, Havill had asked seconds' skipper Cameron Kirk if he could have some game time to help him get back to match fitness after a back injury.

His pace and lines of running were too much for Burnham, who had to borrow Petherton back Paul Hill and also used another home first team player Ben Harvey as a second-half replacement.

Havill departed at half time with the score at 56-0. The home side made half a dozen changes for the second half, but still went on to finish with 13 tries, 11 of them converted by fly-half Mark Sutherland-Earl.

Apart from Havill's devastating running, the key to victory was the superiority of the home forwards, who scrummaged very well - they included first-team front rower's Harley Brown, who is coming back after injury, and Matt Glanville, dropped down to the seconds to gain experience of playing at hooker.

Most of the tries were scored by backs. Those on the scoresheet were Havill (5), Cameron Kirk (2), Chris Mantyk (2), Archie Walford, Steve Wand, Wayne Pither and Chris Wand.

Burnham, who never gave up, looked like scoring only once, when they got over the line, but were held up then penalised for diving over.