Pethy enjoy their biggest victory of the season

Having picked up a succession of narrow wins in the league, North Petherton came away from Chard on Saturday with their biggest win of the season after a confident performance. Other than a poor 10 minutes after the break which allowed Chard back into the match, Pethy dominated the game, creating a good number of scoring opportunities, most of which were taken.

The North Petherton pack enjoyed a good afternoon, with flanker Ben Tarr proving to be an able line-out replacement for the absent James Lees. The extra bulk of Ben Harvey and Mike Coles in the engine room gave Petherton's scrummage the edge throughout, with Harley Brown, Sam Williams, Matt Angel, and Matt Brown, who picked up two tries, making many yards with the ball in hand. The work of Tarr and fellow flanker Mike Taylor provided plenty of quick ball for Neil Lennox to supply the backs, and they made the most of the space created for them with wingers Ben Williams (twice) and Matt Foad crossing the try-line. Full-back Tom Williams also contributed 15 points with the boot, including another couple of excellent conversions from wide positions. Read the match report here.

This win keeps Pethy level on points with second placed Tor, whom Pethy visit next weekend for what promises to be a pivotal encounter at the top of the league. Burnham remain one point ahead in first place with six rounds of matches remaining. All of the weekends results can be seen below.

Tribute Somerset Premier Results - Saturday 21st February 2009

Avon 5 - 25 Burnham on Sea
Bristol Harlequins 37 - 14 Old Sulians
Chard 17 - 40 North Petherton
Midsomer Norton 15 - 18 Chew Valley
Stothert & Pitt 26 - 27 Winscombe
Wells 8 - 14 Tor

North Petherton Seconds ended their losing streak in Somerset Three South with a comfortable win over Wellington Thirds at Beggars Brook. Hooker Miles McNeillie, playing at inside centre, scored his first try in a Petherton shirt since returning from 18 months living in Australia, and was confident, at least in the bar afterwards, that he had found a new position to play in from now on.

With two games in hand, the Seconds will be hopeful of catching the sides directly above them and securing a place in the top half of the table by the end of the season. At the top Weston Thirds, Castle Cary and Chard Thirds continue to dominate the rest of the league with just two points separating them. At the bottom, Wells Thirds continued to struggle to field a side and have now been deducted 12 points having failed to fulfil half of their league fixtures so far. All of the weekends results can be seen below.

Tribute Somerset Three South Results - Saturday 21st February 2009

Chard III 33 - 14 Wiveliscombe II
Minehead Barbarians III 17 - 14 Weston-s-Mare III
North Petherton II 34 - 5 Wellington III
Tor III 5 - 31 Burnham on S II
Wells III AWO Morganians

This coming weekend the First and Second teams face probably their toughest matches of the season so far. The Firsts travel to promotion rivals Tor, and the Seconds travel to league leaders Weston Thirds. The Third team are due to be away to Ivel Thirds and will be hoping to avoid having another game cancelled after Burnham pulled out of their scheduled game at the weekend. There will definitely be a home match though with the Colts taking on Wiveliscombe. All matches kick-off at 2:30pm.