NPRFC - 1st XV vs Truro

Petherton travelled to St. Clements Hill, Truro without the injured utility back James Carter, forcing them to field 1st team hooker, Sam Williams, at centre. Things did not start well with first-up tackles being missed and a lack of variety in the line-outs meant that good ball was hard to come by. Dogged defence by the covering back row and touchline clearances by full back Harry Roberts kept Pethy in the hunt.

Things were even with Petherton just about scraping the territorial advantage until Truro's back row are caught offside at a ruck on their own 22, and with 30 minutes gone, Harry Roberts slotted over the easy penalty to put Pethy in the lead 0 - 3. The Somerset visitors made a hash of securing good ball and at a ruck, the normally reliable second row, Cox tried to pick the ball up giving an easy penalty away. 3 - 3 at 35 mins. Following the restart 'ping-pong' kicking without finding touch and bad defensive positioning allowed Truro's centre to stride in out wide from 25 metres. The conversion was missed and the half time score 8 - 3 to Truro.

Petherton struggled to gain shape in the second half and Truro took the initiative with purposeful running play against the elements which had Pethy on the back foot for most of the half. Stern tackling from captain Angel and powerful counter mauling from Mike Coles gave some glimmers of hope, but Pethy could not get their attacking line going.

On 55 mins Matt Brown (shoulder injury) was replaced by 1st team debutante Dan Wynn and a little later the other former colt Daniel Pearse was brought on to replace Tracey at scrum-half. Harley Brown replaced McNeillie in the front row which gave Petherton more options in the line-outs and they soon started to secure better ball. However, their opponents did not relinquish ground easily and looked certain for the win until the 80th minute when new boy Wynn secured excellent ball from the line-out and set up a rolling maul. Pethy surged forward changing the angle of attack as they went and Cox was there to touch down for the try. Roberts made the pressure kick look easy. The final whistle blew giving North Petherton the victory 8 - 10.

A hard fought and ugly victory for Pethy, but blooding their young guns away from home shows that North Petherton have strength in depth which bodes well for the future.

Next week Pethy are away again to Exeter Saracens. They will need to improve their game to avoid defeat, they cannot leave it to the death, again.

Team: Matt Angel (Capt), Miles McNeillie, Kyle Prescott, Jamie Cox, Mike Coles, Toby Harris, Matt Brown, Arron Gibbs, Ben Tracey, Lloyd Williams, Jamie Adams, Sam Williams, Russell Potter, Mike Stevens, Harry Roberts,

Rep's: Harley Brown, Daniel Pearse, Dan Wynn.

		26th February 2011 - Tribute Western Counties West: Truro 8 v 10 North Petherton Report by Jerry Upfield Petherton travelled to St. Clements Hill, Truro without the injured utility back James Carter, forcing them to field 1st team hooker, Sam Williams, at centre. Things did not start well with first-up tackles being missed and a lack of variety in the line-outs meant that good ball was hard to come by. Dogged defence by the covering back row and touchline clearances by full back Harry Roberts kept Pethy in the hunt. Things were even with Petherton just about scraping the territorial advantage until Truro's back row are caught offside at a ruck on their own 22, and with 30 minutes gone, Harry Roberts slotted over the easy penalty to put Pethy in the lead 0 - 3. The Somerset visitors made a hash of securing good ball and at a ruck, the normally reliable second row, Cox tried to pick the ball up giving an easy penalty away. 3 - 3 at 35 mins. Following the restart 'ping-pong' kicking without finding touch and bad defensive positioning allowed Truro's centre to stride in out wide from 25 metres. The conversion was missed and the half time score 8 - 3 to Truro. Petherton struggled to gain shape in the second half and Truro took the initiative with purposeful running play against the elements which had Pethy on the back foot for most of the half. Stern tackling from captain Angel and powerful counter mauling from Mike Coles gave some glimmers of hope, but Pethy could not get their attacking line going. On 55 mins Matt Brown (shoulder injury) was replaced by 1st team debutante Dan Wynn and a little later the other former colt Daniel Pearse was brought on to replace Tracey at scrum-half. Harley Brown replaced McNeillie in the front row which gave Petherton more options in the line-outs and they soon started to secure better ball. However, their opponents did not relinquish ground easily and looked certain for the win until the 80th minute when new boy Wynn secured excellent ball from the line-out and set up a rolling maul. Pethy surged forward changing the angle of attack as they went and Cox was there to touch down for the try. Roberts made the pressure kick look easy. The final whistle blew giving North Petherton the victory 8 - 10. A hard fought and ugly victory for Pethy, but blooding their young guns away from home shows that North Petherton have strength in depth which bodes well for the future. Next week Pethy are away again to Exeter Saracens. They will need to improve their game to avoid defeat, they cannot leave it to the death, again. Team: Matt Angel (Capt), Miles McNeillie, Kyle Prescott, Jamie Cox, Mike Coles, Toby Harris, Matt Brown, Arron Gibbs, Ben Tracey, Lloyd Williams, Jamie Adams, Sam Williams, Russell Potter, Mike Stevens, Harry Roberts, Rep's: Harley Brown, Daniel Pearse, Dan Wynn.

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