Midsomer Norton made the long trip to Wimborne on Saturday, searching for their first league win of the season. They found the hosts in fine form and despite a battling performance, were always chasing the game.
The Wimborne pack used their superior size to good effect in the opening stages and really made Norton scrap for possession. A failed Norton clearance kick was quickly recycled by the home fullback who made inroads into the Norton half and his offload saw their winger race away for a well-taken try.
Things did not improve for Norton as a serious injury to scrum half, Martin Blackmore, forced a reshuffle with Captain, Matthew Denning, moving to number nine.
The visitors briefly flickered into life when winger, Tom Rideout, took an interception and raced the length of the field for an excellent try which he converted himself.
Wimborne responded to this setback swiftly, as they capitalised on a couple of poor kick chases to allow them to breach the defensive line and add a couple of tries in quick succession.
Norton were still battling at this stage and after a prolonged period of possession in the Wimborne half, they were rewarded with a second try. Despite initially losing the ball in contact, flanker, Andrew Davis, effected a charge down of the hosts' clearance kick and Denning was on hand to touchdown.
A further injury then forced another reshuffle as hooker, James Fuller, was replaced by prop, Callum Bicknall. Wimborne scored again before half-time to leave them with a firm grip on the game, but it was Norton who finished the half the stronger when good, quick ball allowed fly half, Ben Taylor, to sell a dummy and race over under the posts. Rideout converted to leave the half-time score, 32–19.
The second half saw Wimborne dominate possession and territory, but Norton's rearguard action was outstanding. Despite conceding a try early in the half following a mistake at the back of a scrum, the visitors showed real spirit to keep the hosts at bay for the remainder of the game. Wave after wave of attack was snuffed out by some very committed defending from all fifteen Norton players, with Joe Button and Rob Fuller to the fore.
Yet another injury forced prop, Dayne Swift, from the field, who was replaced by winger, Chris Harper, but still Norton stood firm. This change forced Lee Withers to move from the wing to the flank and his efforts typified the fighting spirit in the team.
Looking at the league table, Norton have so far played all the top sides. This week sees them entertain fellow strugglers, Bradford-on-Avon, in what already looks like a key game in the season.
The Norton players wish Martin Blackmore a speedy recovery from what later emerged to be a broken leg.