Late tries maintain North Petherton's promotion hopes

Two tries in the last five minutes by Matt Foad and Mike Coles secured an important victory over Old Culverhaysians on Saturday at Beggars Brook. Having dominated from the start before being dragged into a dogfight and conceding costly penalties, it had looked as if Pethy were going to yet again throw away a match that they should have won. However, despite an error-strewn performance, they finally clicked into gear in the last 10 minutes to win the match. Read the match report here.

This win was made even sweeter when the news that Nailsea had lost for the third successive weekend, this time at Wiveliscombe, filtered into the home changing room soon after the final whistle. This means that Petherton have now re-claimed second place in the league for the first time since September, and it sets up what now promises to be a massive game in two weeks time when Petherton travel to Nailsea. Nailsea are now third and 2 points behind Pethy, but crucially for them, they have a vastly superior points difference (412 compared to Petherton's 310), meaning that it will be a must-win game for both teams.

In other results, Burnham strengthened their position at the top of the league with a comfortable win over in-form Combe Down. Wivvey's victory has moved them into fourth place with a game in hand, and they could yet join the race for promotion if there are any more slip-ups by the top three. Pethy's win over Old Culverhaysians appears to have left them now too far behind to catch the top two. All of the weekend's results can be seen below.

Tribute Somerset 1 Results - Saturday 16th February 2008

Burnham on Sea 45 - 3 Combe Down
Crewkerne 3 - 5 Bristol Barbarians
Imperial 12 - 5 Keynsham II
Martock 3 - 76 Broad Plain
North Petherton 20 - 12 Old Culverhaysians
Wiveliscombe 15 - 14 Nailsea & Backwell

The Seconds gained some revenge for a big defeat earlier in the season when they ran 10 tries past a somewhat depleted Midsomer Norton Fourths. Lloyd Steward led the way with a hat-trick of tries and 8 conversions as Pethy dominated throughout and should have won by a larger margin. Read the match report here.

This good win has moved Pethy Seconds into fourth place in Somerset Three South, although this may change again if Crewkerne are removed from the league table now that they have dropped out of the league. The top two of Wiveliscombe and Taunton are still out of reach, but third place in the league is still up for grabs with Castle Cary and Chard Thirds also in contention. All of the weekend's results can be seen below.

Tribute Somerset 3 South Results - Saturday 16th February 2008

Chard III HWO Wellington III
Hornets III 14 - 37 Taunton III
Minehead Barbarians III 27 - 24 Burnham on S II
North Petherton II 66 - 8 Midsomer Norton IV
Tor III HWO Crewkerne II
Wells III 15 - 50 Castle Cary

This coming weekend the First Team were due to be playing in a friendly match against Winscombe, but that has now been cancelled. The club are hoping to arrange another match by the weekend. The Seconds have a league match away to Burnham-On-Sea.

On Sunday all of the Mini and Junior sides have matches. The mini's are away to Burnham, whilst the Under 13 and 14's will be playing at home against Minehead. The Under 16s and 17s will be also be playing Minehead away from home.