Women’s NC South West 1
North Petherton 12, St Mary’s Old Boys 32

LEAGUE leaders St Mary’s Old Boys proved too strong for North Petherton Ladies on Sunday, winning 32-12 at Beggars Brook.

The visitors took advantage of some early Pethy indiscipline to open the scoring with a penalty, before following up with an unconverted try.

Pethy fought back, regained ground and Sarah Cavill stormed through their defence to score the hosts’ first try, which also went unconverted.

But St Mary’s showed they were a well-drilled side, as they responded with an unconverted try of their own to take a 13-5 lead into half time.

Pethy continued to hold their heads up and fought hard, winning all but one scrum.

But their defence wasn’t strong enough to hold back the visitors, as they scored another three tries, all followed up with conversions.

In the last minute, Pethy played their way forward and Rihanna Beck crossed the line in her first ever ladies match to claim her team’s second try, which was converted by captain Rosie Wheeler.

Pethy Ladies, third in the table, return to action away to Chew Valley on December 9.

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NORTH Petherton men’s 1st XV claimed an impressive win away to fourth-placed Hornets on Saturday, coming from 17-0 down to win 19-17.

The result takes them up to eighth in South West 1 West, three points behind Bridgwater & Albion, and this coming Saturday they host second-bottom Cullompton.

Pethy's 2nds were without a match last weekend; this coming Friday they face Bridgwater & Albion 2nds in a Somerset 1 clash at College Way (ko 7.30pm).

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A SURPRISE last-minute visit from Bridgwater & Albion’s Under-13s may have caught North Petherton U13s’ coaches off guard, but it seemed to spur on the Mighty Oaks, who just about managed to muster a team.

A strong start by Pethy was rewarded by Ben Giles’ try, but Albion levelled before half time and scored two more tries as the hosts tired, to win 15-5.

The Mighty Oaks are away at Avonmouth next week.

Pethy’s Under-16s, meanwhile, were 33-8 winners away to Avonmouth.

Olly Washer crossed for the visitors but Avonmouth led 8-7 at half time.

Four tries in the second half – from Alex Stevens (2), Harry Saunders and Nick Payne – and four Ben Jackson conversions saw Pethy run out comfortable victors.