Seconds battle well at the league leaders

27/01/07 - Somerset Three South: Bridgwater & Albion 60 v 0 North Petherton II

Report from the Bridgwater Mercury

Albion's third string put 60 points past their local rivals on Saturday for the second time this season. But the visitors battled to the end and their forwards, with veteran ex-first-team skipper Mark Innalls outstanding, never gave an inch.

Petherton, who borrowed Albion prop Trevor Field, suffered from having no proper centres, otherwise they might have given the home side trouble out behind. But they tackled hard in a good game and Spaxton forward Phil Hambley made a very promising debut.

The home side's 24-player squad included super-veteran Mike Berry, who came on at scrum-half after the interval to make his 1,499th appearance for the club.

Against the wind, they led 24-0 at half-time with two close-range tries from skipper/hooker Dave Norman and one apiece by No 8 Lee Stanley and centre Dean Cheffey. Fly-half Jon Frost converted two of them.

Replacements Karl Stuckes (flanker) and Chris Hicks (No 8) both crossed twice in the second half, when the other tries were scored by Cheffey and full-back Wayne Hill. Frost added three more conversions.

It was a tribute to Petherton's defence that Albion were unable to score in the final 25 minutes. Colt Adam Modrynski, a former Petherton player, again impressed as a second-row replacement for Albion, while Russ Wogan, Doug Page-Symonds, Jamie Coates and Rich Willis also had good games.