Norton travelled to local rivals Frome, who are riding high in fourth place, for this week's Southern Counties League match and the second leg of the Somerset Standard Cup. Before the game, Norton's confidence was high, having won their last three league games and beating Frome in the previous match, 19–7.
Starting the game playing down the slope and the wind behind them, Norton set about laying siege on the Frome try line. When Frome did mount an attack, Norton's defence competed fiercely in the breakdown, winning the possession back. This enabled them to clear their lines and return into Frome's half. The midfield backs, Martin and Mitchard, led by fly half, Ben Taylor, caused constant problems, stretching the home defence. Although having a lot of possession and territory, due to a number of rushed passes and mistakes, the team were made to wait for the first score.
Frome's defence also stood fast, holding the ball up over the line on two occasions. Eventually, the home side were issued a team warning for killing the ball and this allowed Norton to win quicker ball. Tries came through Jamie Rose off the back of a maul, with Joe Button scoring around the fringes of a ruck and James Abbott touching down out wide.
Norton led at half-time, 17–0, with Ben Taylor adding two conversions and a penalty goal.
The second half saw Frome start brightly and used the elements well to exert a period of pressure in the Norton 22, but the defence was up to the task and the visitors' exit strategy worked well. When Norton regained control of the game, they starved Frome of the ball and then, with ball in hand, used decoy runners to keep Frome on the back foot. This led to a break in midfield by Mitchard, which allowed Rideout to score the four try bonus point try in the corner.
Button completed a great game, scoring his second try with the last attack, outstripping the defence to touch the ball down.
The game ended with the score 34–0 in Norton's favour, the team were pleased with the nil score, but know they left fifteen points out on the field with the ball being held up twice and their Captain dropping the ball over the line.
The Norton team travelled home with the cup in their kitbag, having won the competition with an aggregate score over the two games of 53–7.





