Norton were left to rue their inability to kill off the game on Saturday, when they lost to the last kick against a spirited Chosen Hill outfit. Things had looked good for the home side when replacement, Ben Moon, had kicked a penalty from infront the posts with five minutes remaining, but the visitors landed a long range drop goal to steal the win.

The game was an absorbing encounter, with both teams committing to a good game of rugby. The opening period saw Norton's defence initially stand strong against repeated onslaught from the visitors. The midfield of Jack Rowles and Alex Mitchard put in some big hits to hold them at bay. Eventually though, the hosts managed to work an overlap to allow their full-back to race over.

The home side responded as the pack started to drive around the fringes. This allowed them to soon earn a penalty of their own when Chosen Hill infringed at a ruck. Fly-half, Ben Taylor, kicked the penalty to register Norton's first points of the game.

Soon after, Norton capitalised again, following a good drive from the forwards. This allowed the ball to be swept wide and from here, Mitchard surged past a couple of would-be tacklers to score an excellent try.

Chosen Hill came back into the game and, despite Norton's best efforts, they managed to score under the posts right on the half time whistle for a converted try to put them 12–8 up at the break.

The second half remained an even affair with both sides looking to play attacking rugby. It was Norton who had the better of the early stages as prop, Matthew Edgell, went over for an unconverted try following a good catch and drive from a line-out.

This was followed up on the sixty minute mark when a strong scrum allowed number eight, Ben Parker, to surge for the line. He was held up just short but popped inside to the supporting Ben Moon who dropped over the line. The conversion from the touchline came back off the bar.

Norton were beginning to look comfortable, but their lineout began to falter and this allowed the visitors to capitalise. Norton lost a crucial throw-in and the ball was swept wide to allow the visitors' centre to crash through in midfield for a converted try to put them back in the lead.

The hosts managed to claw their way back up field following strong runs from Matthew Denning and Joe Button. From the subsequent ruck, Chosen Hill infringed and Moon looked like he had claimed the win with a well-struck penalty.

It was not to be though as the visitors continued to press in the closing minutes. From a scrum around the twenty-two metre line, they won quick ball and fed their full-back who kicked a long range drop goal to seal the win.

Norton were down at the final whistle, but still came away from the game with a losing bonus point. If they can cut out the errors, then they will start to win close games like these. Next week they are on the road as they travel to North Bristol.

Ian Tiley