After a long winter of soul searching, an emphatic despatching of Frome in the traditional curtain-raiser on Saturday shows that the hunger burns stronger than ever for Norton and a season of opportunity lies before them.
Choosing to bat on a cloudless, but windy day, Lear, who will look to build on a solid season in 2014, began as if seven months hadn't passed and was quickly into his stride, with some typical back-foot punches through the covers, as the scoreboard creaked back into action. For Nick Cox (6), the early season fluency at one end was not to be mirrored, as after a few drives that lacked conviction, another resulted in his demise, a false shot being drawn by Captain, Wheeler. That dismissal brought the reigning Bristol/Somerset WEPL Player of the Year, Martin Cox, to the crease and he displayed the tenacity, experience and guile that saw him rack up nearly 800 runs in 2014. It came as a surprise when the young Watts managed to beat his defences for an otherwise untroubled 27.
The newest arrival at Withies Lane, Bokang Mosena, strode out for his debut knock and the multiple jumpers suggest it may take a few weeks before he truly adapts to the slightly more temperate West Country climate. The former Under-19 International was not afforded much of a chance to acclimatise to the wicket, however, as an ill-judged single left him well short of his crease, a welcome to the club from Lear almost as cold as the wind. Dean Clifton arrived at the crease with plenty of attacking intent, as he quickly set about sizing up the midwicket boundary. Given the ferocity of some of his connections, Lear clearly decided a spot on the boundary would be a safer viewing spot, top edging a cross-batted effort to be dismissed for 54, a knock that will certainly give some early season momentum. Nick Pang, no stranger to big hitting himself, was the perfect foil to Clifton, keeping the scoreboard ticking over with plenty of ones and twos. Clifton perished after a barnstorming 65, taking on the long on fielder and the headwind and coming off second best. Potter became the second run out victim of the day after registering just one, as "Yes, no ... sorry," preceded his walk back to the changing rooms. Toby Marsh, making his return to the team, struggled for timing, but this didn't deter Pang, as he looked to match Clifton's boundary peppering. Pang was particularly savage on Dredge's off spin, the clubhouse and nets came under fire as he cleared long off with ease. Pang's late flurry resulted in an undefeated 63 and Norton reached a healthy 249-6.
Spectators hoping for some early season excitement were not disappointed, as Davis began the season in ideal style, Dredge, not predicting the movement back in as he left one that took his off stump. Mosena set to work against a now significant headwind and generated some good pace. It was not long before he struck, Webb gleefully accepting the edge off Stonell, as he and Mosena got themselves off the mark in the dismissals column. Sam Gould, who impressed on many occasions as he grew into his place in the First Team in 2014, picked up, like so many of the Norton line-up, where he left off, settling into his usual wicket to wicket channels, taking the ball away at will. It was, however, the inswinger that did for Dan Dredge, the ball blocked on its inevitable path to middle stump by Dredge's pad and he was on his way. Mosena snared a second, bagged in the cordon by Pang and the game, as a contest, was disappearing from view. Pang found some good early rhythm, bagging himself a wicket, before Mosena returned to double his tally, taking two wickets in two balls. Gould quickly wrapped things up from the other end, ensuring he too grabbed a four-wicket haul as Norton secured an emphatic win, dismissing their neighbours for 87.
There were nothing but positives for Norton to take from this first outing, very much a team performance. There will be an opportunity to dust off more cobwebs with a visit from Congresbury this Saturday, before they begin their league campaign at home to Lansdown on the first Saturday in May. On their return to the division, Lansdown will pose a stiff challenge, but given the quality of their first performance in seven months, Midsomer Norton can approach their first league fixture with great confidence, knowing they can still improve. This Sunday, Stratton will be the visitors to Withies Lane.