North Petherton RFC 48, B&A RFC 0 (05/01/13)

The score just about sums up the day for Bridgwater. The league leaders were in total control for much of match and thoroughly deserved this, their third victory over Bridgwater in under a year.

Bridgwater have once again dropped into the relegation zone whilst North Petherton have consolidated their position at the top of the table.

Bridgwater were missing Rob Allen through illness and brought in James Kerry on the wing with Tom King moving in to the centre.

The largest crowd seen at North Petherton for many years saw the home side dominate much of the play with their forwards gaining much ground with driving mauls. Bridgwater failed to make anything of the possession they did gain, either kicking the ball back to North Petherton, where home full-back Harry Roberts was very secure, or they would tamely lose possession with a loose pass or a simple case of butterfingers.

Roberts opened the scoring for the home side when, following a ruck infringement, he kicked a 23m penalty.

Minutes later Bridgwater were awarded a penalty. Dominik Griffin took it quickly and made good ground before being stopped but the ball was eventually lost. North Petherton then scored the opening try. The ball was moved left deep in their own half and reached speed merchant Gavin Hancock. He put in a delicate chip, caught the ball and outpaced the Bridgwater defence for an excellent try.

Before Roberts could convert, a fracas developed near the touchline. Matt Hastie, the Bridgwater hooker could well have been yellow-carded for his part in the incident but home hooker, Sam Williams, who ran fully twenty metres to join in the rumpus should perhaps have seen red for making contact with Hastie’s head. The referee deemed it only worthy of a talking to – but even that should have resulted in a penalty to Bridgwater instead of a simple kick-off.

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North Petherton’s second try was a late Christmas present. James Kerry dropped a possible scoring pass and the loose ball was picked up by Oscar Tregenna who sprinted fully seventy metres for a try converted by Roberts to give the home side a 17-0 lead when it could just as easily have been 10-7. There was no more scoring in the first half. Bridgwater had a spell of pressure that came to nothing when a short penalty kick to the corner was instead kicked dead! For most of the time it was the home side in control.

The second half started in similar fashion. North Petherton scored their third try when a poor Bridgwater clearing kick was gathered by the home side who put Hancock in for his second try, this time unconverted.

Bridgwater held out until the final quarter when the home side ran rampant, scoring four more tries.

The bonus point came when following an excellent move by the home backs, skipper James Carter scored an unconverted try. Then followed a push-over try awarded to Aaron Gibbs, converted by Roberts and almost immediately, Matt Brown broke through several attempted tackles to score at the posts giving Roberts an easy conversion.

The final score was a second try from Carter, following a quickly taken lineout near halfway. Sam Williams converted with an excellent kick from near the left touchline to leave Bridgwater in tatters at 48-0.

Bridgwater will have to regroup for the trip to Wadebridge next week though they may take heart from the fact that Wadebridge lost heavily at Chard this week.  

In two weeks time, Bridgwater entertain Sidmouth who this week became one of the few sides to lose to North Dorset.

Scorers:
North Petherton
Tries: Hancock, (2),  Carter (2),  Tregenna,  Gibbs,  M. Brown
Cons: Roberts (4), Williams
Pen: Roberts

Bridgwater Starting Team: Stuart Heal, Garryn Basson, Tom King, James Kerry, Will Kerry, Dominik Grifin, Roger Drabble, James Bryant, Matt Hastie, Christian Preece, Doug Page-Symonds, Rob Thompson, Nick Spellissy, Ollie Dunn, Dan Kemmish (Capt)

Replacements all used: Rob Prescott, Matt Northey, Mitch Windsor

Referee: Roger Gilson (Somerset Society)

Match report by Tony Pomeroy

Category: 1st XV News, Previews / Reports -XV