Pethy gain an emotional victory on a sad day for the club

25/10/08 - Tribute Somerset Premier: North Petherton 17 v 6 Old Sulians

Report by Harley Brown

With the club flag flying at half mast, Pethy hung on in there after learning of the tragic death of their fellow club mate and friend Josh Evans. Josh’s parents John (Ex-player and Forwards Coach) and Tracy (Committee member) were adamant the game should go on. Petherton showed their respect with a minute's silence before the game and then went all out for the win. This was repeated on the Sunday when all the minis teams lined up together to show their respects whether they had a match or not.

With James Lees still out from recent concussion, it was Keith Robinson and Simon Gingell set to jump in the line outs, and Pethy's forwards had put in extra practice during the week knowing that they would need to provide a good stable base against a heavy pack from Old Sulians, to utilise the Pethy back’s well rehearsed set plays.

Pethy were worked up and adrenalin fuelled from the off, they had one vision, to win. The pressure proved too much for Old Sulians, as Pethy spent the first 20 minutes camped in the visitor’s half, the first penalty came within minutes of kick off and was neatly converted by Tom Williams, and as Pethy kept the pressure on another two penalties followed and were swiftly converted by Williams.

It was almost impossible for Pethy to play their game, as neither team found it possible to play more than one phase as the ref pinged both sides every few minutes, not giving an inch. This took its toll on both sides, but Matt Brown was a cool cat as he kept his forwards under control telling them to play the game, it was the visitor’s no.1 prop that was caught in a football fight, and got binned for ten minutes with fifteen minutes to go of the first half.

Sulian’s prop returned to the pitch from the sin bin, and the visitors managed to pull themselves within striking distance, and with Pethy putting their hands on the ball gave away a silly penalty which clipped the post to go over for Sulian’s first points of the game. Pethy managed to put the visitors back in their own half and with a near miss from winger Bradley Archer assisted by Matt Foad in the corner, Pethy eventually come away with another penalty conversion from Tom Williams to end the first half 12-3.

Pethy’s half time talk didn’t dwell on the lost opportunity of the first half, and were told don’t lose your head’s, get back out there and tear it up. Upon the restart Pethy felt the pressure as the visitor’s managed a sustained attack, Pethy spent several minutes defending from the 5m line, Mike Taylor was a man on the prowl along with Sam Williams, putting into practice new defence tactics from the weeks training. The visitors pressures paid out in the end with another penalty conversion making it 12-6, and Pethy were lucky that the visitors failed to capitalise on another two penalty opportunities which were missed by the visitor’s full back.

Pethy came alive again in the last twenty minutes of the game, and proved their staying power, the “hit man” Matt Brown was rested to give powerhouse Adam Harvey a run out. The forwards were total machines again showing off their stamina to start pushing their opposition off their own ball. The hero of the day was Ben Williams as he finished off a break in the backline on half way, receiving the ball on the 22m line he sold a great dummy to fool not only the covering defender but himself, and eventually forced his way over in the corner for the only try of the game. With only 10 minutes to go, Pethy held on for an emotional victory.

Pethy were pleased to be able to keep John and Tracey’s wishes and our thoughts will continue to be with them in such a tragic time.

Tries: B.Williams

Cons:

Pens: T.Williams (4)

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. T.Williams, 14. B.Williams, 13. C.Burge, 12. Foad, 11. Archer, 10. L.Williams, 9. Rybaruk (Rep. Lennox, 40), 1. Prescott (Rep. Angel, 40), 2. S.Williams, 3. H.Brown, 4. Gingell, 5. Coles, 6. Taylor, 7. Robinson, 8. M.Brown (Rep. Harvey, 60).