Pethy suffer heartbreaking defeat in promotion play-off

25/04/09 - Somerset\Gloucester Promotion Play-Off: Southmead 20 v 14 North Petherton

Report by Simon Gingell

A big crowd was at Southmead to witness the Gloucester/Somerset play off match between the home side and Pethy. Both sides were going for back to back promotions.

The first 15 minutes were spent with the Pethy team defending their try line for all they were worth. Rob Havill made several great try saving tackles during this period of defence. Southmead's game plan was to use big forwards to punch holes but they were repelled every time. When Pethy finally broke into the opposing half they scored the opening try. From a line out a ruck was formed and after several forward drives the immense Matt Brown broke a couple of half tackles to score a try. Tom Williams converted.

This seemed to shock Southmead and soon after Lloyd Williams broke through after similar forward drives to be held up under the posts. Oh for a video ref!

For the rest of the half the game became quite open. Penalties were beginning to be conceded by Pethy as Southmead looked to get back into it.

The Southmead 10 missed 2 kicks at goal before he converted 2 penalties to make the half time score 7-6 to the visitors. During the last 5 minutes of the half Petherton lost Gavin Wolfe to the sin bin for retaliation after his eye was gouged by the Southmead 9. No action was taken against the home player, the ref who was on the spot, consulted with the touch judge, who suggested Wolfe was in the wrong.

The second half began with Pethy on the attack straight from the restart. After several phases Southmead were pinned on there try line and a mix up in mid field as they looked to clear gave Tom Williams the chance to pick the loose ball up and crash over. He added the extra's with his trusty boot to give Pethy an increased lead of 14-6.

What Southmead were good at was kicking well down field for position and this is how they set up the next score. From a line out they managed to steal the ball and camped on the Pethy line. Ben Tarr was yellow carded for what the ref saw as hands in the ruck and Southmead chose to use their man advantage in the scrum. From the resulting 5 meter scrum they seemed to be walking the ball over for a try. Just at the last moment the Southmead 8 looked to have let the ball out from under his feet so it was open play and Pethy secured the ball. The referee blew his whistle and consulted his touch judge yet again, even though on the spot and awarded a penalty try. Converted from under the posts.14-13.

Still Pethy led. Pethy went back up field and camped in the Southmead half, but everytime they came close to the line, either a penalty was conceded or the home 10 cleared his lines. Pethy’s best chance was when they had a lineout 5 metres out, which was taken quickly by Lloyd Williams, he found Harley Brown, who went on the rampage, but in a strange decision, the home side were awarded a penalty, for Pethy preventing the lineout from going in 5 metres.

This aloud an easy clearance and the home side relieved the pressure and gain territory.
Pethy did get to within 5 metre of the try line, after replacement prop, Matt Angel, in his first game back after a lengthy injury, sent a great chip through, which Matt Foad was only just beaten to the ball. Eventually the home side cleared their lines again.

9 minutes to go, a scrum on half way the ball was spread wide by Southmead and their 13 went on a jinking run through 4 attempts at tackles to score under the posts. This was a total bolt from the blue and against the run of play at the time. Heartbreak for Petherton. Still with the clock running down Pethy still tried to attack, desperate for an historic victory but there was no more time left and no further score. 20-14 to Southmead. A great game to watch for the massive crowd. A bitter pill for the Petherton team, coaches and supporters. So near to victory but it is games and situations like this that will make Petherton a stronger side for next season.

Everyone played well and as a team, it was just 15 seconds of mistakes that allowed for the match winning try. The forwards did well against an experience larger pack, Gavin Wolfe had his best game an open side, in the absence of Mike Taylor, making several great tackles.

H/T: 6-7

Tries: M.Brown, T.Williams

Cons: T.Williams (2)

Pens:

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. Tozer, 14. Havill, 13. T.Williams, 12. R.Williams, 11. Foad, 10. L.Williams, 9. Lennox, 1. Kingston (Rep. Angel, 50), 2. S.Williams, 3. H.Brown, 4. Gingell, 5. Coles, 6. Tarr, 7. Wolfe (Rep. M.Burge, 70), 8. M.Brown. Rep Unused: Archer