Report by Matt Glanville
North Petherton Seconds continued their push for promotion with another big win, this week defeating local rivals Taunton Thirds. This was their third victory in a row without conceding a point, during which 201 points have been scored, demonstrating again the quality of their attacking play and solidity in defence. Despite the scoreline suggesting an easy victory, Taunton started the match with greater intensity than their hosts, who struggled to keep hold of the ball in attack. The experienced and physical visiting pack spoiled and slowed down possession effectively in the first 20 minutes and made a commendable effort in defence throughout the match.
However, it was their limited game plan that undid them in these early stages as Petherton exploited missed tackles and handling errors to establish an 18-0 lead after 30 minutes. The lightening quick pace of winger Mike Stevens, Centre Damien Griffen, and Scrum-Half Oscar Treganna was too much for the Taunton defence, and all 3 were heavily involved in exploiting several misplaced Taunton passes as Pethy quickly turned defence into attack.
Stevens opened the scoring with a fine individual effort from 30 metres out after collecting a kick and bouncing off his opposite number to score in the left corner. Fly-Half Dan Pearce missed the conversion but soon added a penalty after Taunton killed the ball at a ruck in front of the posts. Treganna then brilliantly scooped up a loose ball on the half-way line, when it looked like Taunton would score, to run down the left wing and touch down in the corner.
With this early lead established the home pack finally got themselves into the game, carrying the ball with intent and clearing out rucks much more effectively. By gaining much better possession, Pethy then killed the game off by scoring 5 tries in the last 10 minutes before half-time. Stevens scored a further 3 tries in this period, each time leaving the visiting defence in his wake as he blasted down the left wing with Pearce, Centres Ash Palmer and Griffen, and Full-Back Simon Freeman all involved in providing the scoring opportunities, which were taken in devastating fashion. Griffen also scored, touching down a kick through by winger Ben Williams after the ball spilled out of a ruck on half-way, and Captain Simon Gingell ended the half by powering over from close range following a good forward drive from a lineout. Pearce added 3 conversions to make it 43-0 at half-time.
Playing down the slope Taunton started the second half well, enjoying a 10 minute spell inside the Petherton 22. Despite the match being effectively over, Pethy remained fully committed in defence and gave the visitors nothing before finally breaking out of their half and scoring 3 tries in quick succession. The first came from Palmer on 51 minutes, who finished off a flowing move from left to right, before replacement Prop Kyle Prescott ran in from 30 metres out after an excellent hand off and pass inside by Williams. The third was scored by flanker Dan Winn, who picked and went from the base of a ruck on the Taunton 10 metre line, and showed great pace to score in the right corner. Stevens sent over 3 excellent conversions from wide out to extend the lead to 64-0 after 56 minutes.
Replacement Centre Russ Potter was next on scoresheet after 66 minutes, powering through some tired defence to score to the right of the posts, after some more neat interplay between forwards and backs. The conversion was missed but Pethy managed 2 further scores in the last few minutes. Hooker Nathan Murdoch dived over the line in the left corner to score after an excellent offload out of the tackle by Winn, before Stevens rounded the Taunton defence one last time and opted to pass to fellow winger Williams, who passed on to Palmer to score under the posts. Williams added the conversion to make the final score 82-0.
Despite a slow start Pethy can be pleased with another excellent victory. With several changes to the side from last week they maintained their level of performance and the players coming in ensured that team selection will be difficult in 2 weeks’ time when they are away at Tor. For Pethy, No.8 Simon Gingell led from the front with a typically bullish display, with fellow back rowers Mike Taylor and Dan Winn excellent throughout in harassing the opposition into mistakes and turnovers. Out wide winger Mike Stevens was outstanding, tormenting the Taunton defence whenever he got the ball, whilst Centre Damien Griffen also made a great contribution in his first match of the season.
Tries: Mike Stevens (10, 28, 35, 38), Oscar Treganna (20), Damien Griffen (32), Simon Gingell (40), Ash Palmer (51, 80), Kyle Prescott (54), Dan Winn (56), Russ Potter (66), Nathan Murdoch (76)
Cons: Dan Pearce (33, 36, 40), Stevens (52, 55, 57), Ben Williams (80)
Pens: Dan Pearce (17)
Team:
1. Sheldon Jones (Rep. Pete Kingston, 55)
2. Nathan Murdoch
3. Matt Glanville (Rep. Kyle Prescott, 40)
4. Adrian Tew (Rep. Sam Harding, 40)
5. Phil Hambley
6. Dan Winn
7. Mike Taylor
8. Simon Gingell (C)
9. Oscar Treganna
10. Dan Pearce (Rep. Russ Potter, 40)
11. Mike Stevens
12. Ash Palmer
13. Damien Griffen
14. Ben Williams
15. Simon Freeman (Rep. Lloyd Steward, 55)
