NPRFC - 1st XV vs Penryn

North Petherton started this game very well, especially considering that unlike their opponents, they had not played for two weeks and that Penryn had just come off a 71 nil win over Exeter Saracens . From kick-off the Pethy pack were dominant in the loose and also gave the Cornish men food for thought in the set scrum. Unfortunately, however the line-outs were not going to plan, and early pressure from touch-line penalty kicks were wasted at the resultant line-outs.

Foul play for the use of a boot at the side of the ruck saw a Penryn flanker take ten minutes in the cooler and soon after another offside from the home side lead to the first converted penalty of the day when Pethy took the lead in the 13th minute via the able boot of Sam Williams, 0 - 3. But it was tit for tat three minutes later when Penryn's scrum half pulled the scores level with a penalty goal for offside at the break-down.

At the restart Pethy showed their superb speed out wide with Sam Tozer from fullback and Mike Stevens on the wing combining beautifully to gather the ball and put second row Jamie Cox in for a tremendous try which visibly shocked the Penryn team and silence fell over the home supporters. Sam Williams added the conversion to make the score 3 - 10 with 17 minutes on the clock. Pethy had locked into a rich vein of possession rugby and even when seemingly to have lost the ball at a ruck, scrumhalf Ben Tracey stole the ball back from under the Penryn No. 9's nose to continue the action.

The pitch had its part to play in this match and although the home groundsman had done all he could to mitigate the previous two weeks of frost, the surface began to break up and scrummaging was to become more and more difficult for both sides with the referee having to move the point of scrummage around to gain some semblance of purchase. This did not help Pethy's cause and slowly the Penryn pack got more and more into the match, as old injuries to Pethy's props began to surface. Just before half time Pethy's forwards were deemed offside and Penryn moved the score to 6 - 10 at the half time break.

Pethy started the second half with the same spirit they had shown earlier but mistakes at the gather and a kick through meant that they could not capitalise on their possession and in the 54th minute Penryn struck with their first try and conversion to take the lead at 13 - 10.

Good play by Simon Ransom nearly saw Stevens in at the corner and a maisey run by Carter, playing for the first time at stand-off, finished without him gathering the ball. Pethy flanker, Toby Harris, was penalised twice for letting his binding slip and on the second occasion Penryn converted the penalty, 16 - 10.

Simon Ransom made way for Matt Angel at prop and Lloyd Williams replaced Sam Tozer at fullback, but Pethy could do little to stem the flow and a missed tackle at centre saw Penryn score their second try and with the extras the score was 23 - 10 after 68 mins.

Another penalty at the knockings of time made the final score 26 - 10 to the home side but Pethy can take heart from this performance because for long periods they were in control of a side that has sat at the top of the table for most of the season and if it wasn't for some unlucky ball bounces and fumbles, they would have surely won this game.

After the match new Head Coach, Tito Elisara, said that Pethy's performance had greatly impressed him and for 60 minutes they had dominated Penryn, he commended the side on their play and asked for greater intensity on training nights for a big push before Christmas and into the New Year, sure in the knowledge that he has taken over a side that he can be rightly proud of.

Team:-
Simon Ranson (64 min, Matt Angel), Sam Williams, Kyle Prescott, Jamie Cox, George Pettingale, Matt Ranson (69 min, Miles McNeillie), Toby Harris, Aaron Gibbs, Ben Tracey, James Carter (capt), Michael Stevens, Dave Hallaran, Jamie Adams, Sam Tozer (64 min, Lloyd Williams).

		Petherton Make A Game Of It And Impress New Coach Tito 11th December 2010 - Tribute Western Counties West: Penryn 26 v North Petherton 10 Report by Jerry Upfield North Petherton started this game very well, especially considering that unlike their opponents, they had not played for two weeks and that Penryn had just come off a 71 nil win over Exeter Saracens . From kick-off the Pethy pack were dominant in the loose and also gave the Cornish men food for thought in the set scrum. Unfortunately, however the line-outs were not going to plan, and early pressure from touch-line penalty kicks were wasted at the resultant line-outs. Foul play for the use of a boot at the side of the ruck saw a Penryn flanker take ten minutes in the cooler and soon after another offside from the home side lead to the first converted penalty of the day when Pethy took the lead in the 13th minute via the able boot of Sam Williams, 0 - 3. But it was tit for tat three minutes later when Penryn's scrum half pulled the scores level with a penalty goal for offside at the break-down. At the restart Pethy showed their superb speed out wide with Sam Tozer from fullback and Mike Stevens on the wing combining beautifully to gather the ball and put second row Jamie Cox in for a tremendous try which visibly shocked the Penryn team and silence fell over the home supporters. Sam Williams added the conversion to make the score 3 - 10 with 17 minutes on the clock. Pethy had locked into a rich vein of possession rugby and even when seemingly to have lost the ball at a ruck, scrumhalf Ben Tracey stole the ball back from under the Penryn No. 9's nose to continue the action. The pitch had its part to play in this match and although the home groundsman had done all he could to mitigate the previous two weeks of frost, the surface began to break up and scrummaging was to become more and more difficult for both sides with the referee having to move the point of scrummage around to gain some semblance of purchase. This did not help Pethy's cause and slowly the Penryn pack got more and more into the match, as old injuries to Pethy's props began to surface. Just before half time Pethy's forwards were deemed offside and Penryn moved the score to 6 - 10 at the half time break. Pethy started the second half with the same spirit they had shown earlier but mistakes at the gather and a kick through meant that they could not capitalise on their possession and in the 54th minute Penryn struck with their first try and conversion to take the lead at 13 - 10. Good play by Simon Ransom nearly saw Stevens in at the corner and a maisey run by Carter, playing for the first time at stand-off, finished without him gathering the ball. Pethy flanker, Toby Harris, was penalised twice for letting his binding slip and on the second occasion Penryn converted the penalty, 16 - 10. Simon Ransom made way for Matt Angel at prop and Lloyd Williams replaced Sam Tozer at fullback, but Pethy could do little to stem the flow and a missed tackle at centre saw Penryn score their second try and with the extras the score was 23 - 10 after 68 mins. Another penalty at the knockings of time made the final score 26 - 10 to the home side but Pethy can take heart from this performance because for long periods they were in control of a side that has sat at the top of the table for most of the season and if it wasn't for some unlucky ball bounces and fumbles, they would have surely won this game. After the match new Head Coach, Tito Elisara, said that Pethy's performance had greatly impressed him and for 60 minutes they had dominated Penryn, he commended the side on their play and asked for greater intensity on training nights for a big push before Christmas and into the New Year, sure in the knowledge that he has taken over a side that he can be rightly proud of. Team:- Simon Ranson (64 min, Matt Angel), Sam Williams, Kyle Prescott, Jamie Cox, George Pettingale, Matt Ranson (69 min, Miles McNeillie), Toby Harris, Aaron Gibbs, Ben Tracey, James Carter (capt), Michael Stevens, Dave Hallaran, Jamie Adams, Sam Tozer (64 min, Lloyd Williams).

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