Tribute South West One West

North Petherton 18 Camborne 24

NORTH Petherton’s winless start to the league season continued on Saturday as they were edged out by Camborne at Beggars Brook, writes Simon Freeman.

An entertaining game of rugby saw the lead change hands throughout, with the visitors just doing enough.

Tries from Harry Roberts and Gavin Hancock, together with eight points from Roberts’ boot completed the scoring for Pethy, who stay in the bottom three in South West One West.

The game started at break neck speed with Pethy scoring a try after a minute - a strong counter attack was finished off by Gavin Hancock, Harry Roberts converted.

The visitors bounced back and created their own momentum and pushed Pethy back on to their line.

Only some resolute defending kept them out.

However, within the space of four minutes Camborne went over for two tries with Ben Stean kicking one to move them in front 7-12.

Straight from the kick-off Pethy went on the attack and moved the ball around the park and through the back’s hands until it found Roberts in a small space - he went round the last defender to score in the corner and level the scores at 12-12.

The next ten minutes became a midfield battle with neither team holding the ascendency, but both teams having opportunities.

The next score belonged to Pethy, after forward pressure created an infringement at the breakdown - Roberts slotted the penalty.

With the half coming to a close it looked like Pethy would go in ahead, but the visitors had other ideas and on the stroke went over for their third try to retake the lead.

The second-half was a low scoring affair but a cracker in entertainment stakes.

Both teams looked looked to have crossed over for cover tackles to be made.

Pethy retook the lead with a Roberts penalty, but the home team created three try scoring opportunities but were just unable to get over.

Camborne, to their credit, still threw everything into attack and in the last ten minutes went over for a converted try to complete the scoring.

On Saturday, North Petherton host Chew Valley in the quarter-final of the Somerset Cup – 3pm kick-off at Beggars Brook.