Norton travelled to Corsham, intending to build on last week's much improved performance, but yet again, their preparations were hampered, losing prop Edgell, in the pre-match warm-up.
The first scrummage of the game, however, showed the intent of the pack, as they drove the home side off the ball. Corsham spent much of the first half in Norton's territory, but with no real threat, as Norton's well-organised defence snuffed out any attack. When Norton did threaten their opposition line, small mistakes let them down, allowing the home side to clear their lines.
But well into the first half, the game really sparked into life when centre, Jack Rowles, greeted his opposite number with two monumental tackles. The whole tempo of the team increased and the side's attacks started to have much more intensity and bite – this allowed flanker, Joe Button, to cross the line for the game's first try.
Norton continued this intensity into the second half and kept the home side on the back foot for much of it and although the backs had little to do in attack, they made up for it in defence. The hard tackles being put in made it easier for the forwards to win the breakdown and keep the team on the front foot. Unfortunately, on several occasions, after forcing the home side to defend deep in their 22, the lineout stuttered, depriving the side of good attacking ball, letting Corsham off the hook.
Winger, Lee Withers, had been proving a threat all game whenever and wherever he received the ball, always stepping through at least the first couple of tackles. He finally received the reward for all of his efforts when he
finished off a forward drive, sneaking over the line for his second try in two weeks. His try was converted, adding the extra two points.
Sadly, the game ended on a sour note, with two of the Corsham replacements being red-carded for entering the field of play to join in a scuffle near the touch line.