North Petherton U15 v Gordano U15

Gordano travelled to North Petherton having lost their previous encounters, and surprised the strong home team with their improved skills, aggression and ambition.

In the opening 10 minutes the well-matched sides traded attacks and turnovers with the home team having the benefit of the slope. Gradually Gordano's fierce tackling and good technique and aggression at the ruck tipped the balance. Ben Harris and Finley Lynton-Jenkins both making their debuts for Gordano and in club rugby didn't look out of place showing total commitment from the go.

Sustained pressure in the hosts half was repelled until, after 20 minutes, moving the ball through hands from quick ball led to a offside penalty advantage and a well created overlap opportunity but the final pass went to floor. James Hawkins very sharp at scrum half took the penalty quickly and moved the ball to Oliver Heaven who made ground and passed to fly half Macie King who opened the scoring with a try from close range, he also converted.

North Petherton responded positively to falling behind and spent their first time in the Gordano 22. They were rewarded with an equalising converted try from a lineout as for one of the only times during the game the Gordano defensive line didn't go up together and allowed half a gap for the North Petherton player to sprint through under the posts for a converted try to even up the scores. With driving play from forwards the home team began a period of sustained pressure on Gordano and camped in the visitors half. Determined resistance and excellent tackling kept the score at 7 all until the half time whistle.

In the second half the hosts continued to grew in confidence and Gordano's organisation had to be of the highest standard to keep them out. The visitors struggled to retain possession and escape their half for the third quarter.

After strong breaks by the Gordano's backs the pressure reversed and a series of penalties in their own 22 led to a North Petherton flanker being yellow carded. After a defensive kick out of the 22 caught on the run by full back Leon Paul in his own half, his counter attack using pace and great footwork took play back into the home side 22, an off load to Kody Golding led to him being halted 2m short of the line but his offload under heavy pressure led to Connor Adams going over the line for the try. Prop Sid Vining stepped up and landed the conversion to make it 14-7.

In the final 5 minutes North Petherton replied with a series of breaks which led to a converted try after a series of forward drives, bringing the scores level at 14 all. Both sets of boys kept battling until the final whistle. A well matched pair of sides had played great rugby and drawn a well-balanced and hard fought contest.