Report by Russell Williams
North Petherton travelled to Tiverton on Saturday in what they knew would be a difficult match despite the two sides being at the opposite end of the table to one another. Petherton started the day top of the league whilst Tivvy pushed it up at the bottom having failed to win a match this season; however the league leaders travelled with a changed team to that which put in a well drilled and composite display the week before, having lost Jervis Manupenu (hamstring) and Russell Williams (back) to injuries picked up at training on Thursday night and hooker Sam Williams still absent with a damaged ankle. Notwithstanding the differing league positions and enforced changes, spectators could have been forgiven for wondering who exactly was top and who was bottom, as Pethy came up against a physical and well drilled team, who were without doubt the better side for much of the afternoon. Post match it was difficult to work out how Tiverton RFC are currently at the foot of the table.
Playing on a somewhat tacky surface, Pethy never really got into the game in the first half, playing poorly and not being helped by the referee who continually penalising the visitors for going off their feet at the breakdown and holding onto the ball, as Tivvy attacked the breakdown area aggressively, out competing Pethy regularly. Tivvy were first to get on the score board, taking a 10 nil lead within the first quarter of an hour following a penalty by Jimmy Atkins, awarded for offences at the breakdown and then a well taken converted try scored by centre Tom Heard, who walked through two poor ‘tackles’ to score under the uprights. Tivvy defended well all game and their back row combination never allowed Ben Tracey (9) or Lloyd Williams (10) to settle on the ball. Tivvy had a clear game plan from the outset, to pin Pethy back in their own 22 and to make life difficult for the visitors to get out of their half. For the first 40 minutes, play was broken and stop start, with the referee dictating play continually awarding penalties against Pethy. But Tivvy’s plan worked well as Petherton struggled to get any time on the ball, only venturing into the opposition half on the odd occasion when the referee awarded a penalty against the home side. From one of these penalties, Roberts was able to get Pethy on the score board having missed one previous attempt at goal on the twenty minute mark. Having been warned on numerous occasions by the referee to stay on their feet, Petherton yet again failed to obey the ref this weekend and found Matt Ranson sent to the sin bin with half an hour gone. Petherton went into half time 10-3 down and on the end of an absolute hiding from the home side who far outplayed Pethy in all aspects of the game for the first 40.
The second half didn’t bode much better for Petherton who continually found themselves with little space to manoeuvre around the field following good tight defence by the Tivvy line. If it weren’t for a couple of mistakes, Petherton would have been further behind within the hour, after Tivvy made numerous breaks into the visitors half only to knock on or be tackled into touch just short of the try line. On the 65 minute mark Tivvy found themselves on the wrong end of the referees whistle when the flanker Ollie Chanin was sin binned for offending at a ruck only ten metres out from their own line. Tivvy complained about stamping however their 7, who generally had a good game, could too often be found on the wrong side of a ruck disrupting clean fast ball to Petherton, whether or not some medicine was dished out was unclear. From the resulting line out Pethys rolling maul drove over the line for Simon Ranson to touch down for a controversial score which many home supported felt hard done by after the referee had slipped and seemingly indicated initially that the ball had been held up. Roberts missed the conversion to leave the scores at 10-8.
From the restart, Pethy managed to turn the ball over from a Tivvy lineout inside the Pethy 22; Pethy combined play well for once in this game and made their way to the half way line. From here, Pethy continued to drive into the Tivvy half when the ball was shipped to James Carter who broke through two tackles and run in an uncontested try under the posts; Roberts added the 2 points to put Pethy 15-10 up and from here we should have gone on to hold out for an undeserved win.
From the restart, Petherton found themselves being put under pressure yet again by Tiverton, who pressured Pethy into another poor kick collected on half way by the speedy no 15, Josh Hawkins, he made a strong kinking run out wide and chipped over the top of the back line into space. Hawkins chased through and collected the ball, passing inside to winger Hamish Pike who ran in an uncontested try which was converted by Atkins (17-15). After a short exchange of play in the midfield and with only 5 minutes left on the clock, Tivvy again made their way into the Petherton 22 following yet more loose tackling by the visitors. The Tivvy 10 positioned himself well in the pocket and slotted a drop goal to extend the home side lead to 5 points (20-15).
The final part of the game was arguably the most controversial, as Pethy found themselves on the offence in the opposition half. The ball made itself wide and Pethy went to the self proclaimed ‘Go to Guy’ Gavin Hancock who scored a lucky try out wide. Many people were of the impression that Hancock had both knocked the ball on and came up short of the line, but despite missing these factors the referee concluded that the try had been scored and the scores were again levelled at 20 point all. From the resulting conversion, Roberts, who had an uncharacteristically poor day with the boot, hit the left hand upright to leave the match tied. One last attempt was made by Pethy being awarded a penalty on the home side 10 metre line in the final play of the game. Deciding not to run the ball, Roberts made an attempt to win the match but the kick came up short and the match was drawn.
Whilst Tiverton should be commended for playing a great game, they did so against a poorly organised Petherton team who failed to get off the coach. Tivvy deserved to and should have won this match having outplayed Petherton all afternoon; they had their chances but like Pethy they failed to take them. This was the worst display of rugby from a Petherton team in over a year and it is not something that the players can allow to happen again this season if they have any inclination in gaining promotion. The forwards failed to play as a unit, being outplayed around the park by a more streetwise Tiverton pack. The backline looked lacklustre and not with it, missing tackles and failing to provides good quick ball to one another in order to release the speed merchants out wide. Of 18 men, only two stood out for Pethy (Butler and Carter). Other than these two, this was a team who probably found it difficult to look in the mirror come Sunday morning. Petherton brought substitutes Elisara, Prescott and Adam on during the match and each held their own but they were unable to make the key difference on a difficult day. Coach Elisara looks to have picked up another bad injury, with a suspected broken jaw and various dental related problems coming from a few big hits that he put in.
Pethy remain top of the league on points difference, but rest assured they will not get away with putting in another poor performance like this next week at home to Truro if they want to emulate the clubs second team in being top of the league at the Christmas break. More commitment to training and a significant improvement to self discipline on the field of play will be required from now until April if promotional aspirations are to be met.
Team: Coles, McNeillie, S Ranson, Butler, Cox, Taylor, M Ranson, Gibbs, Tracey, L Williams, Hallaran, Carter, Hancock, Griffin, Roberts. Subs (all used) Elisara, Adams, Prescott.
