Tribute South West One West 

North Petherton 15, Hornets 34

AN impressive first half performance from visitors Hornets saw North Petherton slip to 34-15 defeat to their fellow promotion hopefuls at Beggars Brook, writes Simon Freeman.

A good-sized crowd on a chilly sunny afternoon were left in no doubt as to the visitor’s intentions who immediately settled in to a lively tempo.

The visitors shrewdly moved the point of attack and after a series of clever passes and strong breaks scored the first try of afternoon on two minutes, which was successfully converted (0-7). Things got better for Hornets as from the kick off they immediately went on the attack again and stretched the home team’s defence.

Pethy tackled determinedly but the pace of Hornets put them one step ahead and by the sixth minute had scored their second well-worked try (0-12).

Pethy began to play themselves in to the game and camped themselves in the visiting 22.

The hosts used their strike runners and systems to make ground, but were met by a typically strong defence, as Pethy were just unable to show their usual clinical finishing.

Harry Roberts got his side on the board with a well-struck penalty, but Hornets continued to power forward and added their third try with their very next attack.

A penalty extended the visitor’s lead to 22-3 at the break, but Pethy started the second period in far more positive fashion and scored their first try of the afternoon when Chad Lowrie broke off a maul to touch down.

Hornets cancelled it out almost immediately as a slick handling move saw them register a bonus point try.

James Cox charged over from 25 metres to give Pethy a lifeline, but the visitors were in no mood to be generous and forced a turnover from which they scored a converted try to close the game out. (15-34)

## NORTH Petherton travel to Thornbury next Saturday (January 18).

Match Sponsors Jim Doyle – The Lamb inn John Trevarthan – GlosCare