The president of the RFU, Paul Murphy, watched Winscombe defeat Stothert & Pitt in their latest game.

Winscombe 26 pts

Stothert & Pitt 13 pts

WATCHED by a good crowd in the presence of the president of the RFU, Paul Murphy, Winscombe managed to defeat visitors Stothert & Pitt.

In a scrappy opening, Winscombe were winning the scrummage battle, while Stothert the line-out contest.

The first score came on 33 minutes when Winscombe won a line-out, made some ground through the forwards. When Owen Howell broke the gain line, Kieran Clarke, Will Thomas and James Flower drew a penalty which was quickly taken by Andy Ball to crash over, converted by Howell.

The rest of the half, and the beginning of the second, followed the previous pattern of good work being quickly spoiled by bad.

On 47 minutes, Ball took a short throw to the front and sent Thomas on a strong run which was carried on by Howell and George House to set up Tom Nock for a try. After an excellent counter attack was stifled by Ford and Howell at the expense of a penalty, Stothert got on the scoreboard.

With Stothert going backwards once again in the scrum, Hooper was able to free Thomas who found Ball and then Flower crashed through. Stothert were penalised at two successive scrums but on the third one Thomas crossed the line for a try converted by Howell.

Stothert scored a try from a five metre scrum with 10 minutes remaining. The visitors missed touch and Fisher made good ground to send Thompson through to put House away. He opened up the defence to send locks Ball and Aske racing in for a length of the pitch bonus point try. Howell converted on the stroke of time.

Stothert took full advantage of three minutes of added time when their right wing scored in the corner.

RUGBY Football Union president Paul Hooper watched the first team’s 26-13 league victory over Stothert & Pitt after speaking at a club event.

He said: “I thought Winscombe played the breakdown very well and both teams were listening to the referee which allowed the game to flow.”

The visit was part of Mr Hooper’s tour of the country to support the lower levels of the game and followed his visit to Bath on Friday.