Makeshift Second Team are well beaten in an entertaining encounter

22/12/07 - Somerset 3 South: Taunton III 53 v 14 North Petherton II

With this league match coming just a few days before christmas, Pethy struggled to get a side together for what was always going to be a tough match against the Somerset Three South leaders. With the majority of the Second's players from the previous week's victory at Minehead unavailable, Pethy fielded a side featuring players from the Firsts, Seconds, Thirds and Colts. They battled well throughout against a very strong home side, who were no doubt keen to makeup for the heavy defeat that they suffered against Petherton at the beginning of the season.

The home side started at a ferocious pace, playing the ball quickly from the breakdown and passing well out of contact. Pethy struggled manfully to keep them at bay for the first 15 minutes but the continued pressure eventually told, and missed tackles by the Pethy defence allowed the hosts two quick tries, one of which was converted for a 12-0 lead.

In what was to be a recurring feature of the match for Pethy, they lost a player to injury, firstly back row Ade Harris, who was replaced by his 17 year-old son Toby. With influential Second Row Wayne Pither playing on with a hamstring injury, Pethy's forwards had to dig deep and they responded with some good interplay of their own, gaining territory and forcing a couple of penalties on the Taunton 10 metre line. Both were kicked over by First Team full-back Tom Williams, and despite being on the back foot Pethy had managed to get themselves into the game.

However, more poor tackling was punished severely by Taunton, who scored another two tries in quick succession, again created by some excellent interplay between their forwards and backs. Pethy did have the last word of the half though, with another Tom Williams penalty reducing the deficit to 24-9 at the break.

The game opened up even more in the second half as Taunton began to use their many replacements and Pethy began to lose more players to injury, resulting in several stoppages as Pethy had to hastily re-organise their lineup. Despite this they were the first to strike in the second half after Pethy's forwards forced a turnover just inside the Taunton half. Some good interplay between Nick Pocock and Steve Doyle released Tom Williams down the right-wing, and he then drew the Taunton winger in before popping the ball back inside to front rower Matt Glanville who sprinted in from 30 metre's out for a great score.

Williams missed the conversion, and that would prove to be the closest Pethy would get to the home side for the rest of the match. Taunton continued to play a fast game and sent the ball wide as often as possible as Pethy's defence began to tire. They scored another five tries in the half, and although they were well-taken, Petherton's players played some part in their own downfall with missed tackles continuing to allow the hosts in. However, despite being out-played for most of the half they never stopped trying, and were almost rewarded with a second try at the end when winger Luke Williams was tackled into the corner flag just before he was able to get the ball down over the try-line.

At the end of the match Captain Larry Steward was pleased with the efforts of the team, acknowledging that they had just lost to a very good side. For Pethy Tom Williams was outstanding, showing great commitment in defence and attack. In the Centre's Stu Pearn and Dan Steward battled hard throughout despite often being overrun by attacking Taunton players. In the forwards back rower Steve Doyle and hooker Nick Pocock were also outstanding, whilst flanker Toby Harris showed his promise with some good tackling and turnovers during the second half.

Petherton Seconds were also boosted after this match by the news that Castle Cary had failed to raise a side for their match at Burnham, meaning that Cary's 2 point deduction has raised Pethy to fourth place in the table despite this defeat.

H/T: 24-9

Tries: Glanville

Cons:

Pens: T.Williams (3)

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. T.Williams, 14. Lloyd Steward, 13. D.Steward, 12. Pearn, 11. Powell (Rep. Luke Williams, 65), 10. Sutherland-Earl (S.Williams, 40), 9. Wand, 1. Frost (Rep. G.Coles, 55), 2. Pocock, 3. Glanville, 4. Pither (Rep. Frost, 70), 5. Larry Steward (Rep. Agar, 65), 6. Doyle, 7. Agar (Rep. S.Potter, 55), 8. A.Harris (Rep. T.Harris, 20).