Report by James Carter
Saturday saw North Petherton making the long trip down to Truro with a few players playing out of position. They started the match playing into the strong wind making attacking difficult! Truro also used the wind to their advantage pinning Pethy in there own 22 for large parts of the half, but good defence prevented the home team from getting on the scoresheet.
In the 26th minute Miles McNeillie was sin bined for hands in the ruck. A couple minutes later Truro took the lead with a penalty from their 10 meter line (3-0).
From the kick off Pethy came straight back at Truro with a fighting spirit, and a charge down in midfield by a Petherton back took them to the Truro 5 meter line. From there Matt Brown charged over the line with two players trying to stop him. Try time! Harry Roberts converted to make it 3-7.
Truro kicked straight to touch from the reset resulting in a Pethy scrum on halfway. Ben Tracey picked from the back of the scrum, kicked through and Jamie Adams raced on to touch down. Harry Roberts added the conversion, 3-14 half time.
The talk at half time was about using the wind and pinning them back, but like all the best plans, it didnt happen ! Truro came out strong and by generating quick ball were able to score a try under the posts. 10-14
Pethy's indiscipline meant that they were giving away too many penalties which were keeping Truro in the game. One of these they kicked to bring the scores closer, 13-14.
In the 54th minute the Truro No 9 hit Matt Brown in front of the referee, he was lucky to only receive a yellow and not a red ! From the resulting penalty Harry Roberts made it 13-17. Mike Taylor then went to the bin, and a Truro player followed him a minute later for hands in the ruck. Truro then scored a try with 3 minutes left to take the lead 18-17.
Could Pethy repeat last season's feat and dig out a win at the death ? With the last play of the game Gavin Hancock went through the midfield and used his pace to out sprint the defence to regain the lead. Final score 18-22.
A few positives from the game was the defence around the breakdown area, but the penalty count has to be reduced and back chatting to the ref cut out otherwise teams will punish them. A win is a win though and not many teams will win down at Truro , so a great result.
Pethy's next match is at home to Bideford on Saturday 17th September, so let's build on this result !
