Pethy throw it away in Bristol

Having played so well in recent weeks to haul themselves back into promotion contention, North Petherton again shot themselves in the foot with another poor performance away from home. They gifted Bristol Barbarians two tries in the opening 20 minutes through poor tackling and decision-making, and it was a deficit that they were never able to overhaul during the rest of the match against a typically defiant and aggressive home side.

The disappointment for Petherton's player's was evident at the end, particularly after the high they enjoyed two weeks ago when winning at Burnham, but in truth they only have themselves to blame. Pethy have not been able to consistently select their strongest side for two matches in a row at any point this season, and they again arrived at an away match unsure of the starting line-up and short of players. Although injuries and work commitments have hit Pethy hard this season, it is the attitude of the players, particularly towards training and team selection, that needs to change if they are to ever realise their full potential and achieve their aim of establishing the club at a higher level. Read the match report here.

Although leaders Nailsea lost for only the second time this season at the weekend, Petherton will now have to realistically win all of their remaining league matches to give themselves a chance of going up at the end of the season. Even then, given the the superior points difference of the top two, Burnham or Nailsea will also have to lose another three games for Pethy to catch them, which given the results in the first half of the season, seems unlikely. Burnham now look set to go top when they play their match in hand over bottom side Martock, whilst Pethy have slipped to fourth in the table, 4 points behind the top two. All of the weekends results can be seen below.

Tribute Somerset 1 Results - Saturday 15th December 2007

Bristol Barbarians 15 - 12 North Petherton
Broad Plain 20 - 14 Combe Down
Imperial 7 - 61 Burnham on Sea
Keynsham II 24 - 8 Crewkerne
Martock 12 - 71 Wiveliscombe
Old Culverhaysians 16 - 12 Nailsea & Backwell

Whilst the First Team struggled, Pethy's Second Team, who also arrived short of players, continued their recent good run with a solid victory away at Minehead Thirds. They have also now been awarded the points from their match of two weeks ago at Hornets Thirds, when they were halted by severe weather in a match that they were winning comfortably. This means that Petherton Seconds have now achieved 8 league victories so far this season, one more than they gained in the whole of last season.

Pethy Seconds are now in fifth place in Somerset Three South, five points in front of Sixth placed Chard Thirds. Despite also struggling at times this season to get their strongest side out, and having lost a number of players to first team call ups since the start of the season, they can be pleased with what they have achieved so far. It looks like it will be a three way battle at the top now as Midsomer Norton Fourths inflicted a first home defeat on Taunton Thirds to put themselves one point behind Taunton, who remain top on points difference from Wivey Seconds, who edged out fourth placed Castle Cary at home. All of the weekends results can be seen below.

Tribute Somerset 3 South Results - Saturday 15th December 2007

Chard III HWO Wells III
Hornets III HWO Tor III
Minehead Barbarians III 19 - 25 North Petherton II
Taunton III 3 - 23 Midsomer Norton IV
Wellington III HWO Crewkerne II
Wiveliscombe II 18 - 14 Castle Cary

Tribute Somerset 3 South Results - Saturday 1st December 2007

Burnham on S II AWO Wiveliscombe II
Hornets III 3 - 33 North Petherton II
Tor III HWO Chard III

North Petherton's Thirds were also in action at the weekend against Burnham-On-Sea Thirds, and despite the match becoming more of a 10-a-side game with neither team having a full 15, Pethy's Thirds won an entertaining encounter with a last minute Steve Gallagher try. They achieved this despite playing the match with only nine players against twelve. They will be hoping to get more players together for this coming weekend when the Thirds travel to Burnham for a re-match.

There is no First Team match this weekend, but the Seconds will have their work cut out away at table-topping Taunton Thirds.