Petherton end losing run with a nervy win

Shorn of up to 12 players and visibly lacking confidence following back-to-back defeats, North Petherton had to rely on the assured kicking of Tom Williams to give them a much needed victory. With Tor, Pethy's rivals for second place, playing against an under strength Burnham side on Saturday, Pethy could afford no more slip-ups from the first of three successive must-win home matches. With this on their minds, a promising opening 20 minutes saw Pethy produce enough good rugby to have put the match beyond the reach of Midsomer Norton. However, with only two Tom Williams penalties to show for their early pressure, Pethy were driven back into their half by some good attacking play by the visitors, who scored a try from a five-metre scrum shortly before half-time.

As the second-half wore on, Petherton's play became more nervous as they held on to a slender 6-5 lead, and they eventually conceded a second try to fall 10-6 behind. Fortunately, Norton appeared to be missing a first-choice kicker, and these two missed conversions and no attempts at kicking penalties at the posts during the match kept Petherton in the game. Pethy responded well to falling behind and whilst still making mistakes with the ball in hand, they applied enough pressure to force three kickable penalties during the last ten minutes. Tom Williams converted the first and last of these to edge Pethy in front, and they kept Norton penned inside their own half for the last couple of minutes to secure a much needed win. Read the match report here.

This result kept Petherton in second place, two points ahead of Tor, whom, as expected, despatched a weakened Burnham side. Having won the league the week before, Burnham could afford to rest their players ahead of the Somerset Vase final against the same opposition the following day. However, Tor also managed to win an exciting final at Petherton's Beggars Brook ground on Sunday, edging out Burnham 16-15. All of the weekends results can be seen below.

Tribute Somerset Premier Results - Saturday 28th March 2009

Bristol Harlequins 31 - 17 Wells
Chard 46 - 3 Avon
North Petherton 12 - 10 Midsomer Norton
Old Sulians 12 - 16 Stothert & Pitt
Tor 101 - 7 Burnham on Sea
Winscombe 14 - 7 Chew Valley

North Petherton's second team had no match but were able to move up one place in the league after Wivvey Seconds handed a walkover victory to league leaders Weston Thirds, and were deducted 2 points as a result. Defeats for Burnham and Morgs gives Pethy a good chance of finishing as high as fourth if they can win their remaining three matches. All of the weekends results can be seen below.

Tribute Somerset Three South Results - Saturday 28th March 2009

Chard III 71 - 0 Tor III
Minehead Barbarians III 19 - 12 Morganians
Wellington III 5 - 41 Castle Cary
Weston-s-Mare III HWO Wiveliscombe II
Winscombe III 25 - 21 Burnham on S II

This coming Saturday is the Ex-Player's reunion day with the First and Second Teams both playing at home, and both playing in big derby matches. Just like this time last year, Pethy must beat champions Burnham to keep themselves in second place, giving them a chance of promotion. The Second Team will be facing local rivals Morganians, keen to avenge the 8-0 defeat they suffered away from home earlier in the season. Both matches kick-off at 2:30pm.