NPRFC - 2nd XV Wiveliscombe II

North Petherton Firsts were again frustrated by the weather for the second week running as waterlogged pitches meant that the majority of matches across the Somerset Leagues were postponed, including Pethy's match at Imperial. However, Petherton and Wiveliscombe Seconds were able to play their league fixture, although the Wivey Second Pitch soon turned into an old fashioned mudbath.

The seconds were strengthened only by first-teamers Mike Coles and Pete Kingston, both on the bench for the start of this match. Conditions were farcical in heavy mud and after only a few minutes it was impossible to tell the teams apart. To make matters worse, the showers stopped working after the game with only a few Pethy players hosed off, and it was some time before one shower could be persuaded back into life!

The home side tackled well and adopted the right sort of game for the conditions, kicking over the top and pressurising well, forcing Pethy back into their own half and keeping them there for large chunks of the match. Petherton attempted to play some wide rugby, as it was out in the backs where they edged Wiveliscombe in the reverse fixture earlier this season. However, Pethy's best periods of play came when they were able to get their powerful runners attacking the Wivvey defence and making some big holes. Unfortunately, both sides were guilty of infringing at the breakdown, and due to the poor conditions most promising attacks were often ended with a knock-on or penalty offence.

Wivvey led 10-3 at half time thanks to two tries, the first coming from a Pethy 5-metre line-out when Petherton's forwards were unable to grasp hold of a very slippery ball, allowing one of the Wivvey back-rows to flop on the loose ball as it bobbled over the try-line. The second came from another well-judged kick over the top that was finished well by the Wiveliscombe left-winger who showed great pace to beat the covering Pethy defence to touch the ball down.

Kicking was unsurprisingly difficult in the conditions, and the home-side missed both conversions. Pethy wing Lloyd Steward also missed the target with one penalty attempt, but succeeded with another to bring Petherton back into the game.

Conditions made scoring chances very rare in the second-half, with most of the play taking place near the half-way line. However, Wivy scored another try under the posts from a quick turnover inside the Petherton half, which was converted, increasing their lead to 14 points.

It wasn't until the last 15 minutes that the visitors really got going, finally keeping the ball for several phases and getting into the Wivvey 22. With 10 minutes left lock Wayne Pither collected the ball from the back of a ruck on the 10 metre line and beat several challenges with some neat side-stepping for a big man, before he was tackled just a yard short of the posts. The ball was recycled quickly as fly-half Mark Sutherland-Earl was first there and he held off two tacklers to flick the ball out to Matt Glanville who drew the last defender and threw the ball out to prop Rob Keirle to score a rare try.

The difficult conversion was missed, but Pethy were soon back inside the home 22 and threatening a further score, but a trip on Pethy full-back Archie Walford as he chased his own kick was missed by the referee and the hosts held out for a deserved victory.

Powerful runner Ben Harvey, continuing his comeback after two months out of rugby, carried the ball well in the mud playing at No.8, while Coles and Kingston made an impact from the bench after coming on at half-time. Flankers Kev Gray and Adie Harris were everywhere, and replacement wing Jamie Adams also impressed with several good breaks from his own half.

H/T: 10-3

Tries: Keirle

Cons:

Pens: Lloyd Steward

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. Walford, 14. Lloyd Steward, 13. D.Steward, 12. Perrin, 11. Luke Williams (Rep. Adams, 40), 10. Sutherland-Earl, 9. Kirk, 1. Jennings (Rep. Kingston, 40), 2. Glanville, 3. Keirle, 4. Pither, 5. Larry Steward (Rep. M.Coles, 40), 6. Harris, 7. Gray, 8. Harvey.

		Seconds toil in the mud and rain 19/01/08 - Somerset 3 South: Wiveliscombe II 17 v 8 North Petherton II North Petherton Firsts were again frustrated by the weather for the second week running as waterlogged pitches meant that the majority of matches across the Somerset Leagues were postponed, including Pethy's match at Imperial. However, Petherton and Wiveliscombe Seconds were able to play their league fixture, although the Wivey Second Pitch soon turned into an old fashioned mudbath. The seconds were strengthened only by first-teamers Mike Coles and Pete Kingston, both on the bench for the start of this match. Conditions were farcical in heavy mud and after only a few minutes it was impossible to tell the teams apart. To make matters worse, the showers stopped working after the game with only a few Pethy players hosed off, and it was some time before one shower could be persuaded back into life! The home side tackled well and adopted the right sort of game for the conditions, kicking over the top and pressurising well, forcing Pethy back into their own half and keeping them there for large chunks of the match. Petherton attempted to play some wide rugby, as it was out in the backs where they edged Wiveliscombe in the reverse fixture earlier this season. However, Pethy's best periods of play came when they were able to get their powerful runners attacking the Wivvey defence and making some big holes. Unfortunately, both sides were guilty of infringing at the breakdown, and due to the poor conditions most promising attacks were often ended with a knock-on or penalty offence. Wivvey led 10-3 at half time thanks to two tries, the first coming from a Pethy 5-metre line-out when Petherton's forwards were unable to grasp hold of a very slippery ball, allowing one of the Wivvey back-rows to flop on the loose ball as it bobbled over the try-line. The second came from another well-judged kick over the top that was finished well by the Wiveliscombe left-winger who showed great pace to beat the covering Pethy defence to touch the ball down. Kicking was unsurprisingly difficult in the conditions, and the home-side missed both conversions. Pethy wing Lloyd Steward also missed the target with one penalty attempt, but succeeded with another to bring Petherton back into the game. Conditions made scoring chances very rare in the second-half, with most of the play taking place near the half-way line. However, Wivy scored another try under the posts from a quick turnover inside the Petherton half, which was converted, increasing their lead to 14 points. It wasn't until the last 15 minutes that the visitors really got going, finally keeping the ball for several phases and getting into the Wivvey 22. With 10 minutes left lock Wayne Pither collected the ball from the back of a ruck on the 10 metre line and beat several challenges with some neat side-stepping for a big man, before he was tackled just a yard short of the posts. The ball was recycled quickly as fly-half Mark Sutherland-Earl was first there and he held off two tacklers to flick the ball out to Matt Glanville who drew the last defender and threw the ball out to prop Rob Keirle to score a rare try. The difficult conversion was missed, but Pethy were soon back inside the home 22 and threatening a further score, but a trip on Pethy full-back Archie Walford as he chased his own kick was missed by the referee and the hosts held out for a deserved victory. Powerful runner Ben Harvey, continuing his comeback after two months out of rugby, carried the ball well in the mud playing at No.8, while Coles and Kingston made an impact from the bench after coming on at half-time. Flankers Kev Gray and Adie Harris were everywhere, and replacement wing Jamie Adams also impressed with several good breaks from his own half. H/T: 10-3 Tries: Keirle Cons: Pens: Lloyd Steward Drop Goals: Team: 15. Walford, 14. Lloyd Steward, 13. D.Steward, 12. Perrin, 11. Luke Williams (Rep. Adams, 40), 10. Sutherland-Earl, 9. Kirk, 1. Jennings (Rep. Kingston, 40), 2. Glanville, 3. Keirle, 4. Pither, 5. Larry Steward (Rep. M.Coles, 40), 6. Harris, 7. Gray, 8. Harvey.

		©2008 North Petherton RFC

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