Last Saturday, for the second time this season, Midsomer Norton suffered defeat at the hands of Shapwick & Polden. Norton remain in fourth place in the league table, just one spot below Shapwick and Polden, although the gulf between the two sides seemed greater last weekend.
The home side won the toss and decided to bat. A century partnership for the first wicket helped lay the foundations for a big total. Both openers scored half centuries – Tinnion (56) and Edmunds (61) – and, at four, Spencer scored 63. Andy Cox was absent from the side through injury, and Norton used seven bowlers.
Nick Pang (3–53) and Dan Chard (3–51) were the pick of the Norton bowlers, and there were wickets for Josh Sutton and Martin Cox as well – giving up 36 wides, though this didn’t help the visitors’ cause.
After tea, Norton’s batting frailties were all too evident once again. Alex Lear (thirty) and Dan Nolan (49) offered the only genuine resistance to the home side’s attack.
Only two other Norton players reached double figures. Finding themselves 7–2, Norton staged a partial recovery to reach 51–2, but five wickets fell in quick succession to leave Norton 59–7. Nolan shepherded the tail to some effect, but Norton were all-out for 132 with eighteen overs unbowled.
Although Norton are fourth in the table, they are only twenty points ahead of the bottom-placed team, so the side needs to return to winning ways as soon as possible after the coming weekend’s rest.
On Friday 13th, the Under-19 side take on Timsbury at Withies Lane. The game starts at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, the Second XI visit Chew Magna and the Third XI have a home fixture against Old Bristolians Westbury.
Charlie Matthews