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North Petherton 64, Coney Hill 15

NORTH Petherton bounced back from last week’s defeat at Clevedon to trounce struggling Coney Hill 64-15.

Pethy ran in ten tries as they cruised to a 16th victory of the season and kept up the pressure on the league’s top three, writes Simon Freeman.

Aaron Gibbs, Harry Autun and Chad Lowrie all scored two apiece, while Williams, Griffin, Cox and Taylor also crossed for the hosts.

The opening stages played in midfield remained tight, with the visitors just having the upper hand after making a series of powerful breaks from their forwards.

But it was Coney Hill who made the first explosive break, only for some excellent defence from Mike Coles to thwart the danger.

Pethy found their straps in the 15th minute with a series of plays that stretched the visitors across the field, until a perfectly timed pass from Jervis Manupenu found Arron Gibbs who ghosted through defenders, Harry Roberts converted.

Coney Hill responded positively and pushed Pethy back with a series of well-placed kicks, however a miss placed one allowed Pethy to counter and Sam Williams who was unstoppable from 5 yards out to score by the corner flag, Roberts converted.

The forwards laid the platform for the third try with Carl Brown and Ben Morgan instrumental in allowing Gibbs to stroll over for his second.

The lead was increased almost immediately thanks to some dazzling footwork from Damian Griffin, before the visitors registered their first score of the afternoon.

The second half began as the first half ended with Coney Hill on the attack and the already relegated side added their second try early on.

The response was imminent and some direct running from Williams allowed Harry Autun over for a deserved try, Coney Hill battled valiantly and frequently tried to play their way out of defence, but Pethy were just a bit sharper and Chad Lowrie went over to make it 40-10.

Petherton continued to move the ball at pace with deft touches and by the 65th minute had scored another two tries through James Cox and Lowrie, both converted.

The ninth try went through eight set of hands, with forwards and backs linking and ending in the hands of James Taylor who sprinted over from 25 metres.

The final passage of play demonstrated the speed of the Pethy attacks as the ball was shifted across the field three times and with numerous options Williams found Autun who dotted down his second.