Pethy enjoy two derby victories on player's re-union day

North Petherton repeated their victory of a year ago over league champions Burnham-On-Sea to secure second place in the Somerset Premier and with it a chance of joining their local rivals in a second successive promotion. Just like last year, Burnham arrived having won the league and with Pethy needing to beat them to keep hold of second place, and again Pethy got the win that they needed.

It was an entertaining match for the large crowd, and Pethy did not disappoint them by putting in a huge team effort, led from the front by their outstanding forwards. Pethy started brightly and soon established a 10-0 lead through a converted Sam Williams try and Tom Williams penalty. The game opened up after that and Pethy found themselves on the back foot as Burnham's 10 kept them pinned inside their own 22 with some accurate kicking. Burnham scored two unconverted tries to level it at the break, the first from a swift counter-attack after Pethy knocked on, and the second from a lineout move that caught out the Pethy defence.

In the second half Petherton re-established their control of the game and Bradley Archer finished off a great counter-attacking move after Lloyd Williams turned the ball over. Pethy's forwards then created some great pressure on the Burnham line before Matt Brown crashed over to put Pethy 20-10 in front. Burnham came back with another try of their own before a Tom Williams penalty secured a 23-15 win. Read the match report here.

The importantance of this win was underlined when news reached the club that Tor, the other side contesting second place, had lost at Chew Valley, meaning that Petherton will definitely finish second. No one is yet sure what this will mean in terms of promotion as the RFU are again reshaping the leagues above. However, it should at least mean a promotion play-off against the side who finish second in the Cornwall/Devon Premier, which at the moment will likely be either Okehampton or Truro.

In other results, Wells recent run of form continued as they climbed out of the relegation places for the first time since October. Having been around mid-table all season, Avon have now dropped into the bottom two with one round of matches to go. All of the weekends results can be seen below.

Tribute Somerset Premier Results - Saturday 4th April 2009

Chew Valley 29 - 19 Tor
Midsomer Norton 43 - 13 Old Sulians
North Petherton 23 - 15 Burnham on Sea
Stothert & Pitt 33 - 31 Bristol Harlequins
Wells 29 - 10 Chard
Winscombe 40 - 24 Avon

North Petherton Seconds also enjoyed victory over their local Somerset Three South rivals Morganians, to complete a great afternoon for the club. It was a somewhat attritional victory over Morgs, in a match that was highly competitive but short on quality. As usual, Morganians had a big physical pack which slowed the game down as Pethy struggled at times to put more than one or two phases together, with the contest between the forwards seeing a constant stream of turnover ball for both sides. However, Pethy displayed a greater cutting edge out wide, and they were able to stay in front of their visitors on the scoreboard throughout the game, although their lead was never comfortable. They scored three tries through Dave Hill, Larry Steward, and Lloyd Steward to secure the win. Read the match report here.

This win keeps Pethy in fifth place, with two games remaining, home and away, against Tor Thirds. With Burnham Seconds having finished their season and currently just one point above Pethy in the table, a fourth place finish is within reach. In other results, Weston Thirds ensured that they will finish top by winning at Castle Cary, who will join them in Somerset Two next season despite this defeat. All of the weekends results can be seen below.

Tribute Somerset Three South Results - Saturday 4th April 2009

Burnham on S II 28 - 7 Wiveliscombe II
Castle Cary 10 - 30 Weston-s-Mare III
North Petherton II 17 - 10 Morganians
Tor III 10 - 10 Minehead Barbarians III

On Good Friday the First Team will be in action away at Taunton Seconds in the annual Caroline Mitchell Memorial cup match. On Saturday, the Second Team are away to Tor Thirds and the Thirds are away to Wiveliscombe. On Sunday, the Colts are at home to Weston.