Petherton win a third league match in a row

05/12/09 - Tribute Western Counties West: North Petherton 43 v 3 Withycombe

Report by Lloyd Williams

With the visitors still without a win this season they chose to play with the elements and the slope. Pethy found the first half tough going, the visitors to their credit, made it very hard for Pethy to get a solid platform to build structure to their game. There were glimpses of what Pethy could do if they spread the ball wide quickly, with several breaks by the back 3 of T Williams, B Tracey and C Goodwin.

After a period of pressure Pethy were awarded a penalty that Tom Williams unusually missed, straight away the visitors gained their own penalty. Soon after Tom Williams was successful with his second attempt. The game was end to end stuff, mainly due to the amount of penalties each team was giving away. Also during this period the visitors missed several attempts on goal, keeping the score 3 – 3, up until the last 10mins of the half. Pethy’s first try came from a Withycombe lineout on their 5m line. It missed the jumper and landed in the hands of Matt Brown, who dived over for his easiest try of the season maybe for a couple of seasons. Tom Williams converted and that was the end of a frustrating first half for Pethy and their spectators.

The second half was mostly Pethy, the pack stepped it up a gear and produced the quick, clean ball that the backs required. Still not really playing to the game plan for various reasons, Pethy adapted to the visitors and conditions well and looked dangerous whenever they were on the front foot.

Tom Williams was first to score off a great backs move, which he was unable to convert.
Matt Brown who unawares had fractured his wrist mid way through the first half scored a second mid way through the second half, not much more effort than the first really, created by his fellow forwards. The ball found Sam Williams crashing through off Capt Lloyd Williams’ shoulder, it took several defenders to stop him, quick hands saw it go on to the ever supporting Mike Taylor, he then selflessly offloaded to Matt Brown with the line in sight. Tom Williams converted and then left the pitch with a slight injury.

Pethy really started to open up in the last 20mins. With more tries from James Carter and James Cox, both to the surprise of the crowd were converted well by Lloyd Williams. Ben Tracey finished of the game with his first 1st team try, after a sliced clearance kick from the visitors 2nd row behind his posts. Tracey dived on the ball over the line just inside the touchline. Lloyd Williams finished off a much improved team performance in the second half with a successful touchline conversion, which lost several members of the crowd money.

Everyone played well and the team seemed to really gel together in the second half. Centres James Carter and Dave Hallaran tackled and distributed well, Tom Williams was given too much space and went on many explosive runs. The front row of Angel, Williams and Coles had a solid day in the scrum and offered themselves as ball carriers throughout. And Matt Brown was his normally destructive self and try poacher extraordinaire.

Many thanks go to Match and Ball Sponsor, John Lang.

HT: 10-3

Tries: M.Brown (2), T.Williams, Carter, Cox, Tracey

Cons: T.Williams (2), L.Williams (3)

Pens: T.Williams (1)

Drop Goals:

Team: 15. T.Williams (Rep. Goodwin, 60), 14. Tracey, 13. Carter, 12. Hallaran, 11. C.Burge, 10. L.Williams, 9. M.Ranson, 1. Angel, 2. S.Williams, 3. Coles (Rep. Prescott, 70), 4. Cox, 5. Gingell, 6. Pettingell (Rep. Lees, 55), 7. Taylor, 8. M.Brown.