Somerset Web Ellis Cup: North Petherton 25-45 University of Bath

THE North Petherton Oaks were handed their biggest loss of the season by University of Bath at the weekend.

The cold Saturday evening game shaped to be exciting from the start. Expectedly Bath bought a young and quick team, with Pethy hoping the experience and home advantage would bring them over.

A good crowd that braved the heat were rewarded with what was an exciting game, the score line not doing justice after a poor first half for North Petherton, a debatable red card and some mistakes saw the score 26-6 at the half time break.

However The Oaks do what they do best and fought back into the second half, Peter Paramore Crashed over for their first, with returning Oak, Connor Perkins also adding to the scoresheet, and Jack Reds crossed the line adding more points to his season tally.

Debutant Ollie Manchip slotted 2 of the 3 conversions, in the process scoring his first senior points.

More strong highlights with runs from Captain Adam Conybeare, debutant Isaac Sweetland, and Prop George Inoke the Oaks put the pressure on in the second half.

But it wasn’t meant to be, as Bath continued to score late on into the game, leaving just too much work to do for the Oaks.

But it was an enjoyable game for the crowd, and a good learning experience for the players as they go into next week looking ahead to our first home league match in 40 days, as we take on Wellington to finish the first half of the season.

The Man of Steel award is given to the player that makes the biggest, hardest, fairly legal shot of the day, and this week George Inoke took the award home with him.

A big shot in the midfield early on in the first half that certainly got the crowd into the game.

The Fireaway Bridgwater Man of the Match award was given to Joey Redman, back to back stellar performances, Joey's performances get better each week.

He is starting to settle nicely into that Oaks shirt as his confident and concise high ball ability, and his dangerous unpredictable attack was once again on display last night.