Great team performance by Pethy

29/11/08 - Friendly: North Petherton III 76 v 5 Burnham-On-Sea III

Report by Cameron Kirk

After the previous game against a very strong Burnham XV, normal service was resumed as the thirds faced a team more on their level.  The continued success of the thirds was highlighted by the fact that despite 3 forwards being unavailable from the last game, Petherton were still able to field 19 players.  Burnham on the other hand could only field 14 so Petherton stalwart Clarence Clatworthy was happy to don the blue and white and make up their numbers.  Suffice to say his Petherton colleagues were always wary of the drop-goal threat!!

On a bitterly cold day, it was plain to see who had turned up on time, they’d got to the long sleeved shirts first!

With the late cancellation of the second team fixture, winger Lloyd Steward made himself available, unfortunately playing in the back row wasn’t quite what he had in mind.  However, in true third team spirit he “gave it a go”.   The thirds were also fortunate to gain the services of prop Pete Kingston who was happy to take Gary Coles’ place on the freezing cold bench.  The question was asked “how can somebody with that amount of body fat get cold”?

It was clear from the outset that this would be a game full of running rugby as both teams looked to play expansively.  Petherton’s pack were outstanding and Kev Gray was everywhere as usual.  With such an open game his back row partner, Lloyd Steward, was able to show his pace and was often involved in the Petherton breaks.  As the Petherton pack started to dominate, the backs looked more and more dangerous and the centre partnership of Nathan Rose and Kris Sewell began to punch more holes in the visitors defence.  In the first half Petherton scored five try's, three of them converted.  A minor downside was the intercepted try that Burnham were gifted, apart from this Petherton always looked in control.  At half time the score was 31 – 5.

The second half was more of the same and the try's flowed.  Petherton’s extra pace was telling but the support play was the best feature.  Every break always had men busting a gut to get on the shoulder to carry it on. It was noted afterwards that all of the try's were long range efforts.  The second half also saw a change in referee as Nick Prince was injured by Archie Walford (“honestly guv, he didn’t mean to do it”) as he chased a kick.  Club coach Kim O’Connor came to the rescue for the last 20 minutes.
Leading the try scorers was flanker Lloyd Steward with four, full-back Archie Walford got three, centre Kris Sewell had two and scrum half Stuart Pearn and wings Jason Carter and Glen Taylor had one apiece.  Cameron Kirk converted eight.

Although it was a great team performance, centre's Nathan Rose and Kris Sewell both had good games, but men of the match were Stuart Pearn who made excellent breaks from nine, despite being a centre himself, and hooker Rob Kearle who was charging around like a man possessed.
As always against our neighbours, the game was played in the right spirit, and the plenty of the right spirits were consumed afterwards.

Yes, we still await the drop goal.

Team: 
Bill Frost, Rob Kearle, Trevor Field, Lee Hughes, Karl, Kev Gray, Lloyd Steward, Andy Prowse, Tony Scott, Pete Kingston, Stuart Pearn, Cameron Kirk, Dan Puddy, Kris Sewell, Jason Carter, Nathan Rose, Archie Walford, Glen Taylor.