Tribute Somerset One

Bridgwater & Albion II 12, North Petherton 12

IT WAS honours even in the second derby class in two weeks, as Bridgwater and North Petherton’s second XVs played out an action-packed draw at College Way.

It was a closely fought contest throughout. with strong defences from both teams contributing to a scoreless stalemate until the final play of the first half.

Poor discipline from both sides around the ruck area gifted both teams penalty attempts at the sticks.

Both failed to seize the opportunity and take the lead with North Petherton’s effort coming closest when it pinged off the upright.

A fantastic effort from Bridgwater’s scrummaging unit saw them break the stalemate with a pushover try scored by number eight Olly Steward.

Hill Snr had relieved himself of kicking duties so Hill Jnr added the extras and gave Bridgwater a 7-0 lead.

Early on in the half, North Petherton levelled the scores with a try in the corner from a driving maul after a short lineout.

After linking some phases together, North Petherton managed to create an overlap and used it efficiently to score out wide in the corner.

The tricky conversion was missed, but Petherton took the lead for the first time and with time ticking down were sitting at 7-12.

The referee then adjudged Stradling to have hit the kicker late during a clearance and he was sent to the sin bin for his troubles.

Some strong carrying across the Bridgwater team finally resulted with Brakes reaching out for the try line to score Bridgwater’s second try.

This re-levelled the scores at 12-12 – and the wide conversion was unsuccessful and with less than five on the clock.

Bridgwater were then foolishly penalised for hands in the ruck and, as a result, looked like they had thrown the game away with an easy penalty in front of the posts.

But the penalty was pushed wide and the hosts breathed a sigh of relief – but it was to be short lived as North as after the 22 drop out, Petherton attacked again and a gaping hole appeared in the Bridgwater defence.

The hole was exploited and Pethy were clean through in a race to the line.

Only some fantastic scrambled defence from John Hill Snr and Oscar Tregenna caused the ball carrier to knock the ball when he was already over the line.

Sluman cleared up and the referee blew the full time whistle.