Tribute South West One (West)

North Petherton 35 Avonmouth 22

NORTH Petherton broke their season duck with a bonus-point victory over Avonmouth at Beggars Brook on Saturday, writes Simon Freeman.

Gavin Hancock scored twice for Pethy, while Mike Stevens, Sam Williams and Harry Roberts were also on the score sheet.

Ten points from the boot of Roberts completed the hosts’ scoring, to leave injured captain Damian Griffin delighted to end a six game losing streak.

He said: "We set ourselves goals for the next few weeks and the win has put us on the right track.

“We know we have been scoring but our defence has been poor, so to keep a good Avonmouth team out at the end was credit to the lads.

“It’s very frustrating for me to watch whilst I'm still injured, but watching the boys battle like that makes it easier.”

The blustery conditions influenced tactics, with the visitors having first use of the wind.

Pethy created the first opportunities, but were pulled back for two forward passes from promising positions.

Avonmouth played their way back in to the game and created the extra man to score a well worked try through Rhys Merideth, converted by Joe Wearne.

Pethy responded with a couple of sharp breaks from Jon Gallagher and Jack Kohler to pin the visitors back, which allowed Dominik Griffin to switch play for a clever kick to be placed behind the retreating visitors defence, which winger Mike Stevens pounced on to dive over, Harry Roberts converted.

Both teams had chances but the remainder of the first-half became a midfield battle, until in dying moment when the official awarded the visitors a penalty try to retake the lead 7-14.

The second-half began with Pethy playing at quicker tempo which stretched the visitors.

The forwards began to find success around the breakdown and after a couple of short lineout drives an explosive break from Sam Williams saw him bulldoze his way over the line and skillfully dot the ball down, Roberts converted.

The momentum shifted in Pethy’s favour and within a couple of minutes they worked their way out of their own half - and an individual break from Roberts saw him go half the length of the pitch for a fine score, he also kicked the conversion.

Pethy began to play some composed rugby, keeping possession and making their tackles with Aiden Cotton, Carl Brown, Matt Hastie all working tirelessly around the park.

The visitors, who defended well all afternoon, continued to make Pethy work hard and after a short break from Simon Gingell and Dan Morgan, the ball was in the hands of Gavin Hancock who worked hard on the opposite wing to touch down - Roberts again converted.

The visitors turned the table and began to exert their own pressure and soon forced a penalty for Wearne to slot over to narrow the gap.

As the game entered the last ten minutes Mac Taylor forced a turnover and after a clever chip from Olly James, Hancock was quickest to respond and steal the ball to score near the posts.

The last try belonged to the visitors following a pinpoint cross-field kick.