Penalties once again prove costly for Pethy

16/01/10 - Tribute Western Counties West: Truro 12 v 10 North Petherton

Report by Mike Taylor

Petherton travelled down to Truro for the first game back after Christmas with arguably their best squad of the season. Not knowing what to expect of the Cornish pitch due to recent snow and rain showers they were surprised to see a dry pitch when they arrived. Pethy received the kick off and immediately tried to stamp their authority on the game with hard direct running and high intensity at the breakdowns. This paid off as they were rewarded with a try within the first 15mins, scored by centre James Carter, made by a great offload by Dave Hallaran. Tom Williams converted. The rest of the half was a hard fought battle with only good defense keeping out either side. The home side managed to slot one penalty before half time making it 3-7.

The second half started as the first ended with Truro's Fly half kicking even more in behind Pethy’s line giving them good territory but again Pethy's solid defense stood firm. Tom Williams extended the lead, with a well taken penalty 3-10. Pethy soon found themselves on the Truro line after this, one well placed penalty kick gave them a great lineout position. After several close range drives, a combination of Matt Ranson and Matt Angel crashed over the line, with Angel seeming to ground the ball, but it wasn’t to be. This set up another great scoring opportunity, with the shove on at the resulting scrum, Pethy seemed to be on their way over the line. But then in a strange decision even though Pethy had their whole pack together and driving straight, the decision was called that the broken home scrum was allowed to come around the fringes as the scrum was over. Truro then cleared they way up field.

Then the game seemed to change with the pitch and weather conditions worsening. In the last quarter Pethy centre Carter was sin binned for contesting the ball in a ruck, whilst playing advantage from a similar home infringement seconds before. From the lineout Truro knocked the ball forward inches from the Pethy line, but instead of a Petherton scrum it was awarded to Truro. Soon after the home side were awarded a penalty making the score 6-10. With the Pethy forwards dominating many scrums throughout the game, it then seemed strange when a home scrum was driven back and round 90° but again the decision when the wrong way. Territory was lost and yet another penalty was awarded, this time the backline conceding their first offside of the afternoon, when the ball seemed clearly out of the ruck. It was kicked 9-10.

Decisions made at every breakdown seemed determined to give Truro the game with Pethy being penalised everywhere. After a Pethy forward dived on a loose ball, the home side were awarded another penalty. In the dying moments of the game they kicked the 3 points to win.

On the positive side Pethy looked confident; especially with the return of Dave 'Sumo' Hallaran to the backline, who put in some massive hits with centre partner James Carter and Powerful prop Simon Ranson coming off the bench after returning from a long knee injury. The forwards once again dominated their opposition and the backs looked dangerous running with ball in hand. Everyone in a Pethy shirt can hold their heads up high after a gutsy performance, showing they are capable of mixing it with the big boys.

HT: 3-7

Tries: James Carter

Cons: Tom Williams

Pens: Tom Williams

Drop Goals:

Team:
1. Matt Angel
2. Sam Williams
3. Kyle Prescott (Simon Ranson 65mins)
4. Jamie Cox
5. James Lees
6. Ben Tarr (George Pettingell 50mins)
7. Mike Taylor
8. Matt Brown
9. Matt Ranson
10. Lloyd Williams (Capt)
11. Ben Tracey (Jamie Adams 40mins)
12. Dave Hallaran
13. James Carter (Yellow Card 68-78mins)
14. Craig Goodwin
15. Tom Williams