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North Petherton 41 Thornbury 10

INJURY-hit Thornbury were well and truly thrashed by a North Petherton side that was desperate for a win to ease themselves away from the relegation zone.

It was a case of déjà vu for Thorns who once again returned from North Petherton having been out-muscled up front and denied the possession needed to play to their strengths. It was an entirely forgettable afternoon.

Thornbury kicked off and applied early pressure. After four minutes, a clearing kick was charged down. Thorns re-gathered the ball and moved it wide where Sam Poustie scored by the corner flag. Tom Williams narrowly missed the conversion but it was a good start for Thorns.

The next few minutes were all Thornbury as play took place exclusively in the Pethy half.

But North Petherton got increasingly into the match and their big forwards began to take control. Play was taken to the Thornbury line and, with a player in the bin, a clearing kick was run back with purpose for a try. Pethy’s hooker converted to put them 7-5 ahead.

Thorns created a good chance to score as forwards and backs took play to the Pethy ten-metre line. After Johnny Heaven cleared out a ruck and the ball was moved across the line to Louis Ogilvie. He eased past one player but clearly struggled with a hamstring injury and was tackled to touch in the corner. Instead, it was Pethy who scored when their wing raced in two minutes later for 14-5.

North Petherton were now in full control. Harry Glew pulled off a try-saving tackle but the Somerset side weren’t to be denied and scored a try on the stroke of half time to lead 19-5 at the break.

Thornbury were still in the game but knew they had to score next, but they delivered arguably the worst quarter of rugby this season.

North Petherton started the second half as they had ended the first. Thornbury’s tackling was woeful and, after three minutes, the other wing scored the bonus point try.

Tackling continued to be optional and North Petherton scored two further tries in quick succession.

A re-focus was essential, and Thornbury looked better in the last quarter.

With ten minutes remaining, Thorns drove George Sheldon over from a lineout for an unconverted try. But Pethy had the last word with a seventh try in last play to secure a deserved 41-10 win.

This was a dire performance. The application and work rate was low and Thornbury never got close to top gear. North Petherton needed and wanted the win more and had the commitment and determination to secure that victory. Individually, there were some good performances in the Thornbury side, with Glew, in particular, a hero in defence. But Thornbury’s first-up tackling was extremely poor and although subsequent tackles defending an attack were better the momentum by then was with North Petherton. On Saturday week, Thornbury take on Drybrook who will be unforgiving in their relentless pursuit of promotion.